Lesson 1: Income - Calculating Rate of Pay or Hours Worked

   Constructing Knowledge

There may be times when the gross pay is known, but you do not know the rate of pay or the number of hours worked. You will use the same problem solving structure but will need to use division to solve for the unknown factor.

EXAMPLE 1

What is the hourly rate of pay for a baker who worked 35 hours last week and whose gross pay was $533.75.

Solution


\(\begin{align} \text{gross pay}&=\text{rate of pay}×\text{hours worked} \\ \\ 533.75&=\text{rate of pay}×35 \\ \\ \frac{533.75}{\color{red}{35}}&=\frac{\text{rate of pay}×\cancel{35}}{\color{red}{\cancel{35}}} \\ \\ \$15.25&=\text{rate of pay} \\ \end{align}\)

The baker's hourly wage is $15.25.

   Multimedia

A video describing rate of pay calculation is provided.



EXAMPLE 2

Mandi is 14 years old and works at A&W for $9.95/hour. She wants to save enough money to buy a puppy that costs $299.

How many hours will she need to work to save enough money to buy a puppy? Assume she will not spend her earnings on anything else!

Solution


\(\begin{align} \text{gross pay}&=\text{rate of pay}×\text{hours worked} \\ \\ \$299.00&=\$9.95×\text{hours worked} \\ \\ \frac{\$299.00}{\color{red}{\$9.95}}&=\frac{\cancel{\$9.95}×\text{hours worked}}{\color{red}{\cancel{\$9.95}}} \\ \\ 30.05\,\text{hours}&=\text{hours worked} \\ \end{align}\)

Mandi will have to work a little over 30 hours to earn enough money for the puppy.

   Practice Makes Perfect

Now, it is your turn! Complete the questions in your Chapter 1, Lesson 1 Practice Makes Perfect that refer to Calculating Rate of Pay.



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