Barry is paid double-time for each hour that he works over 40 hours in a week. Last week he worked 49 hours and earned $580. What is his normal hourly rate?

Question

Question from algebra math 113. Word problem that I do not understand

Answer 1

Aryana, this is easier than it seems, I promise!

 

Let's let s = his normal salary. For the first 40 hours, he makes 40s, right?

 

Since he worked 9 extra hours and got paid double, then his salary for that is 9(2s) = 18s.

 

We add the two together for his total salary.

 

40s + 18s =580

           58s = 580

                s = 10

 

So his normal salary is $10/hour.

 

Hope this helps!

 

 

Answer 2

Let x=normal hourly rate

We can find the his regular pay by multiply the hours work at regular pay by his regular hourly rate

We can find his over time by multiplying his hours worked in overtime by his over time pay.

Since Barry gets payed double time his over time pay is equal to twice is regular pay which would be 2x.

 

Since the money he will get paid regularly plus the money he will get paid over time will equal his pay check then we can write an equation  using this info.

 

Barry works 40 hours at regular pay so:

the money he makes at regular pay= 40x

Barry works 9 hours over time so his over time pay=9(2x)

 

Thus

40x+9(2x)=580    Combine like terms

58x=580              Divide both sides by 58

x=10 

 

Barry's normal hourly rate is $10 per hour.