1. **State the problem:** We are given the distance between two cities as 17000 km, rounded to the nearest 1000 km. We want to write an inequality to show the possible limits of the actual distance. 2. **Understanding rounding to the nearest 1000 km:** When a number is rounded to the nearest 1000, it means the actual value lies within 500 km above or below the rounded number. 3. **Set up the inequality:** Let the actual distance be $d$. Since the distance is rounded to 17000 km, the actual distance satisfies: $$17000 - 500 \leq d < 17000 + 500$$ 4. **Simplify the inequality:** $$16500 \leq d < 17500$$ 5. **Interpretation:** The actual distance between the two cities is at least 16500 km but less than 17500 km.