A machine fills Quaker oatmeal containers with 32 oz. of oatmeal. After the containers are filled, another machine weighs them. If the containers weight differs from the desired 32 oz. weight by more than 0.5 oz., the container is rejected. Write an equation that can be used to find the heaviest and lightest acceptable weights for the Quaker oatmeal container.

We know that ideally a Quaker oatmeal container should have 32 oz. oatmeal.

We also know that a difference of 0.5 oz. is acceptable, otherwise the container is rejected.

Let the amount of oatmeal actually present in the container be Q

32 - 0.5 < Q < 32 + 0.5

⇒ 31.5 < Q < 32.5

Hence, the equation that represents the highest and lightest acceptable weights is 31.5 < Q < 32.5.