Sure! Let's break down the problem statement step-by-step to write the correct inequality.
1. Understanding the Statement:
The statement given is: "Five less than a number is at least 21."
2. Translating Words to Mathematical Expressions:
- The phrase "a number" can be represented by the variable [tex]\( n \)[/tex].
- The phrase "five less than a number" translates to [tex]\( n - 5 \)[/tex].
- The phrase "is at least" means "greater than or equal to" which translates to [tex]\( \geq \)[/tex].
3. Formulating the Inequality:
- Combining these translations, we have [tex]\( n - 5 \geq 21 \)[/tex].
4. Selecting the Correct Answer:
- We compare the formulated inequality with the given choices:
a. [tex]\( n \geq 21 - 5 \)[/tex] simplifies to [tex]\( n \geq 16 \)[/tex], which is incorrect.
b. [tex]\( 5n < 21 \)[/tex] is unrelated to our statement.
c. [tex]\( 5 - n \leq 21 \)[/tex] is also unrelated to our statement.
d. [tex]\( n - 5 \geq 21 \)[/tex] matches exactly with our formulated inequality.
Therefore, the correct answer is:
d. [tex]\( n - 5 \geq 21 \)[/tex]
