Maya has $15 to spend. She spent $5.50, including tax, to buy a notebook. She needs to save $7.75, but she wants to buy a snack. If cookies cost $0.25 per package including tax, what inequality would show the maximum number of packages that Maya can buy? Solve your inequality by showing your work and steps.
Inequality: 5.50 + 0.25x ≤ 7.75
Step 1: Subtract 5.50 from both sides
0.25x ≤ 2.25
Step 2: Divide both sides by 0.25
x ≤ 9
Answer: Maya can buy a maximum of 9 packages of cookies.