To make a small vase, Elisa uses no more than 4.5 ounces of clay. To make a large vase, she uses at least 12 ounces of clay. Which compound inequality represents the number of ounces of clay, c, that Elisa uses to make one vase of either size?

A small vase uses no more than 4.5 ounces, so its amount satisfies c ≤ 4.5. A large vase uses at least 12 ounces, so its amount satisfies c ≥ 12. Since the vase can be either size, the compound inequality is c ≤ 4.5 or c ≥ 12, which is choice D.

AI-written and checked against the verified answer.