Jaime is preparing for a bicycle race. His goal is to bicycle an average of at least 280 miles per week for
4 weeks. He bicycled 240 miles the first week,
310 miles the second week, and 320 miles the
third week. Which inequality can be used to
represent the number of miles, x, Jaime could bicycle
on the 4th week to meet his goal?

Answer

Jaime is preparing for a bicycle race. His goal is to bicycle an average of at least 280 miles per week for 4 weeks. He bicycled 240 miles the first week, 310 miles the second week, and 320 miles the third week. Which inequality can be used to represent the number of miles, x, Jaime could bicycle on the 4th week to meet his goal?

Solution

Jaime’s goal is to average at least 280 miles per week for 4 weeks. If T is the total number of miles Jamie will bicycle for 4 weeks, then his goal can be represented symbolically by the inequality:T⁄4, or equivalently T ≥ 4(280). The total number of miles Jamie will bicycle during this time is the sum of the distances he has completed and has yet to complete. Thus T = 240 + 310 + 320 + x. Substituting this expression into the inequality T ≥ 4(280) gives 240 + 310 + 320 + x ≥ 4(280). Therefore, choice D is the correct answer.

Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because they do not correctly capture the relationships between the total number of miles Jaime will ride his bicycle (240 + 310 + 320 + x) and the minimum number of miles he is attempting to bicycle for the four weeks (280 + 280 + 280 + 280).