An elevator can carry at most 2,000 pounds. If the average person weighs 165 pounds, what is the maximum number of people who can safely…

Divide the weight limit by the average weight: $\frac{2000}{165} \approx 12.12$. People come in whole numbers, and the elevator can carry at most 2,000 pounds, so we must round down. Twelve people weigh $12 \times 165 = 1{,}980$ pounds, which is under the limit, choice D. Thirteen people would weigh $2{,}145$ pounds, exceeding capacity, so choice A (which comes from rounding up) is unsafe. Choice B (12.1) is not a whole number of people. Choice C (11) is safe but not the maximum, since a 12th person still fits.