Chapter 2 - Solving Linear Inequalities - 2.1 - Writing and Graphing Inequalities - Exercises - Page 60: 54

$ x \lt 17000$

Let $x$ represent the amount for losing bid. They lost the auction as the amount was less than the winning bid. Hence the losing bid amount will be less than $17000$. The inequality will be $$x\lt17000.$$ The graph marks all numbers to the left of $17000$ with an open circle at $17000$ since $17000$ is excluded.