Answer:
(a)
Since each bottle holds 17 fluid ounces, then if b is the number of bottles of water and w is the total volume of water in fluid ounces we can set the following equation:
[tex]w=17b\text{.}[/tex](b)
Now, if b=51,
[tex]w=17\times51=867.[/tex]Therefore, in 51 bottles there are 867 fluid ounces.
(c)
If w=51, solving for b we get:
[tex]\begin{gathered} 51=17b, \\ \frac{51}{17}=b, \\ b=3. \end{gathered}[/tex]
Therefore, it would take 3 bottles to hold 51 fluid ounces.