SAT Mathematics Practice Test 2

Since there were $175,000$ tons of trash in the landfill on January 1, 2000, and the amount of trash in the landfill increase 7,500 tons each year after that date, the amount of trash, in tons, in the landfill $\mathit{y}$ years after January 1, 2000 can be expressed as $175,000+7,500\mathit{y}$. The landfill has a capacity of 325,000 tons. Therefore, the set of years where the amount of trash in the landfill is at (equal to) or above (greater than) capacity is described by the inequality $175,000+7,500\mathit{y}\ge 325,000.$
Choice A is incorrect. This inequality does not account for the $175,000$ tons of trash in the landfill on January $1,2000$,nor does it accurately account for the $7,500$ tons of trash that are added to the landfill each year after January $1,2000$.Choice B is incorrect. This inequality does not account for the $175,000$ tons of trash in the landfill on January $1,2000$.Choice C is incorrect. This inequality represents the set of years where the amount of trash in the landfill is at or below capacity.