A barber charges $12 for a haircut. His operating expenses are on average, $37 per day. He calculates his profit by subtracting his operating costs from the money he earns from the haircuts he gives. In a given day, the barber expects to make a profit of at least $86. If the barber gives h haircuts in a day, which inequality best models this situation?

12h-37 ≥ 86

Explanation:

The barber wants to make a profit of at least / $86$86dollar sign, 86. Since profit is total revenue minus expenses, where revenue is the price per unit times the number of units sold, we can model this situation with an inequality:

total revenue-expenses ≥ $86

The barber's total revenue is 12h. We know that the expenses for the day are $37.

Let's model the whole situation with the inequality:

12h-37≥86

86≥12x-37