Word Problem Help

Question

I have trouble with word questions and I'm never sure how to extract the information to complete the questions. Can someone help me with the one below.

 

A salesperson is paid $300 per week plus 4% commission on her weekly sales of x dollars.  Find the linear function that represents her total weekly pay, W (in dollars) in terms of x.  What must her weekly sales be in order for her to earn $475.00 for the week?

Answer 1

W = 300 (weekly wage) + 0.04x (4% commission on x sales)

 

475 = 300 + 0.04x            subtract 300 from both sides

175 = 0.04x                       divide both sides by 0.05

4375 = x

 

She must sell $4,375.

 

Check

 

475 = 300 + 0.04(4375)

475 = 300 + 175