Let's start by setting up an inequality to represent the situation described. We know the following:
1. Jonas has 8 pounds of dry food.
2. He needs more than 1 pound of dry food for every five guinea pigs.
Let [tex]\( x \)[/tex] be the number of guinea pigs Jonas can have in the store.
The amount of food needed for [tex]\( x \)[/tex] guinea pigs can be expressed as:
[tex]\[ \frac{x}{5} \][/tex]
Since Jonas needs more than 1 pound of dry food for every five guinea pigs, the amount of dry food must be greater than the dry food required by the guinea pigs. Therefore, we set up the inequality:
[tex]\[ 8 \geq \frac{x}{5} \][/tex]
To eliminate the fraction, we multiply both sides by 5:
[tex]\[ 8 \times 5 \geq x \][/tex]
[tex]\[ 40 \geq x \][/tex]
Thus, the inequality simplifies to:
[tex]\[ x \leq 40 \][/tex]
This tells us that Jonas can have up to 40 guinea pigs in the store, given he has 8 pounds of dry food.
So, the solution to the inequality is:
[tex]\[ x \leq 40 \][/tex]
The correct answer is [tex]\( x \leq 40 \)[/tex].