WORD PROBLEM

Question

Mike is offered and annual salary of 35,000 and a gurunteed raise of 1000 every year. Will is offered 30,000 with a garunteed raise of 5% every year.

 

When does will make more than mike?

which job will be more worthwhile?

which will represent a linear function?

Answer 1

You first want to find equations for both people. Mike's equation is y=1000x+35000, where y equals total salary and x equals the number of years.  For Will, his equation is y=30000(1.05)^x , where again, y equals total salary and x equals the number of years. Mike's equation is a linear function. You want to find how long until the salaries are equal, so you make 1000x+35000=30000(1.05)^x. By computing for x, you find that after 6.797 years, the salaries are equal. Because Will's salary is increasing at a faster rate, Will's salary will be higher any time after 6.797 years. Before 6.797 years, Mike's job is more worthwhile.