An elevator can hold less than 2700 pounds of extra weight. If an average person weighs 150 pounds,

An elevator can hold less than 2700 pounds of extra weight. If an average person weighs 150 pounds, what is the maximum number of people (p) that can be on the elevator at one time?

Total weight = average weight per person * Number of people
Total weight = 150p

We know from the problem that:
150p < 2700

We want to solve this inequality for p. Divide each side of the inequality by 150:
150p/150 < 2700/150

Cancel the 150's on the left side and we get:
p < 18