Module 8

Module 8: Daily Living

 

Bringing Ideas Together

 

In Get Started and Explore, you examined two alternative ways of earning income—custom work and piecework. In this part of the lesson, you will discuss these options further and explore additional methods of earning income.

 

Example 2

 

Leslie is a newspaper carrier for the Daily Holler. The newspaper is printed seven days a week and must be delivered by 7:00 a.m. each morning. Leslie is paid $0.10 per paper delivered each day. In August, Leslie had 225 customers. How much did Leslie earn in August?

 

Solution

 

There are 31 days in August. Each day, Leslie delivered 225 papers.

 

 

Self-Check

 

These questions are related to piecework.

 

SC 2. Use the information from Example 2. What are Leslie’s hourly earnings if it takes 2.5 h/d to deliver the newspapers?

 

SC 3. Duncan delivers pizza. He is paid $1.50/delivery and keeps all his tips. Last night Duncan made 21 deliveries and received $51.00 in tips. If he worked 5 h, what were his hourly earnings?

 

Compare your answers.

 

Working for Yourself

 

The last category of earners you will explore are the self-employed.

 

Many workers and professionals, such as lawn-care specialists, tree trimmers and arborists, roofers, painters, electricians, plumbers, drywallers, tutors, accountants, authors, and consultants, decide to work for themselves rather than having an employer.

 

The self-employed often enter into contracts with their customers or clients.

 

A contract will specify the tasks to be completed and how the contractor will be paid. The contractor could be paid by the hour or by the job.

 

Example 3

 

Bruno is a self-employed painter. He is bidding on a contract to paint the home of a long-term customer. Bruno estimates the job will take 8 d. He has a helper whom he will pay an hourly wage of $10.00/h. If both Bruno and his helper work 8 h each day, and the cost of paint and supplies will be $560.00, what should Bruno charge the customer to end up with $25.00/h for himself?

 

Solution

 

The job will take 8 d at 8 h per day, or 64 h.

 

 

cost of paint and supplies = $560.00

 

 

Bruno’s hourly wage = $25.00/h

 

For 64 hours,

 

 

 

Bruno will say the job will cost the customer $2800.00.

 

Self-Check

 

These questions involve self-employed earnings.

 

SC 4. Evan is a self-employed plumber. To install a toilet for a customer who wants a particular model, he will charge $90.00. If he supplies the toilet, he will charge $472.00 (before taxes) for the toilet and installation. If Evan can purchase the model of toilet wholesale for $255.00, how much more will he make if he sells the customer the toilet?

 

SC 5. What are the advantages of self-employment? What are the disadvantages?

 

Compare your answers.

 

Mastering Concepts

 

Holly Fine-Day is in the final stages of opening a pizza parlour in a small city in Saskatchewan. She intends to hire a delivery person for the hours between 5:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m.

 

She is trying to decide whether to pay minimum wage ($9.25/h in Saskatchewan as of February 2010) or to contract out the delivery to a self-employed driver for $2.50/delivery. She wants to attract a responsible person who will work for her for a long time. If Holly asked you for advice, what would you recommend?

 

Compare your answer.

Mathematics 10-3 Learn EveryWare © 2010 Alberta Education