Does “inclusive” mean the weight can be equal to 8.5 or 9.2, or must it be strictly greater than 8.5 and strictly less than 9.2?

For each answer choice, check two things: Is it at least 8.5? Is it at most 9.2? Eliminate any choice that fails either check.

For each answer choice, type a compound inequality into Desmos, such as 8.5 <= 8.3 <= 9.2, 8.5 <= 8.4 <= 9.2, and so on for all four choices. Desmos will tell you whether each statement is true or false; the weight that makes the statement true is the one that qualifies for the standard rate.

The parcel must weigh between 8.5 and 9.2 ounces, inclusive.

This means the weight $w$ has to satisfy the compound inequality

“Inclusive” means $w$ can be exactly $8.5$ ounces, exactly $9.2$ ounces, or any value in between.

Now, test each option to see whether it fits in the interval $8.5 \le w \le 9.2$.

Write a statement for each choice:

• $8.5 \le 8.3 \le 9.2$
• $8.5 \le 8.4 \le 9.2$
• $8.5 \le 8.9 \le 9.2$
• $8.5 \le 9.4 \le 9.2$

Next, you will decide which of these statements is true.

Evaluate each statement:

• $8.3$ is less than $8.5$, so $8.5 \le 8.3$ is false.
• $8.4$ is less than $8.5$, so $8.5 \le 8.4$ is false.
• $8.9$ is greater than $8.5$ and less than $9.2$, so $8.5 \le 8.9 \le 9.2$ is true.
• $9.4$ is greater than $9.2$, so $9.4 \le 9.2$ is false.

The only weight that satisfies $8.5 \le w \le 9.2$ is 8.9 oz, so the correct answer is 8.9 oz.