Let's define the inequality step-by-step.

Given:

• The maximum weight the container can hold is 27,500 kilograms.
• A shipment weighing 5,400 kilograms is already in the container.
• Each crate weighs 100 kilograms.
• Let $x$ represent the number of 100-kilogram crates that can be added to the container.

To formulate the inequality:

The total weight of the crates plus the already loaded weight should not exceed the container's maximum weight. Therefore, the inequality is:

$5400 + 100x \leq 27500$

Solving the inequality:

1. Subtract 5,400 from both sides:

$100x \leq 27500 - 5400$

$100x \leq 22100$

2. Divide both sides by 100:

$x \leq \frac{22100}{100}$

$x \leq 221$

Solution:

The number of 100-kilogram crates that can be loaded into the container is at most 221.

Let me know if you'd like more details or further clarification.

Here are five related questions to expand on this problem:

1. What if the shipment already loaded was 7,000 kilograms instead of 5,400?
2. How would the inequality change if each crate weighed 120 kilograms instead?
3. What is the total weight if 150 crates are loaded?
4. How many crates can be loaded if the maximum weight is increased to 30,000 kilograms?
5. What is the minimum number of crates that could be loaded if the shipment weighs 6,500 kilograms?

Tip: Always isolate the variable term by simplifying the inequality step-by-step, just as you would for an equation!