Question

to make a small vase, elisa uses no more than 4.5 ounces of clay. to make a large vase, she uses at least 12 ounces of clay. which compound inequality represents the number of ounces of clay, c, that elisa uses to make one vase of either size?
$4.5 < c < 12$
$c < 4.5$ or $c > 12$
$4.5 \leq c \leq 12$
$c \leq 4.5$ or $c \geq 12$

Explanation:

Step1: Analyze small vase clay usage

For a small vase, Elisa uses no more than 4.5 ounces, so \( c \leq 4.5 \).

Step2: Analyze large vase clay usage

For a large vase, she uses at least 12 ounces, so \( c \geq 12 \).

Step3: Combine the inequalities

Since it's either a small or large vase, we use "or" to combine the two inequalities: \( c \leq 4.5 \) or \( c \geq 12 \).

Answer:

\( c \leq 4.5 \) or \( c \geq 12 \) (the fourth option: \( c \leq 4.5 \) or \( c \geq 12 \))