A bookshelf can hold a maximum of 45 books. Let b represents the number of books to be shelved. Which inequality represents how many books can be put on the shelves?

b ≥ 45

b > 45

b < 45

b ≤ 45

The number of books that can be shelved is 45. So then we know that the amount that need to be shelved can be 45, if the bookshelf had 0 books on it. This means that it can have the equal part of the inequality sign.

However, the amount of book that need to be shelved cannot exceed 45, so b must be less than 45.

Therefore, the answer must be D) b ≤ 45.