Edna worked 2 parttime jobs, earned $226 for working total of 26 hours. Paid $8 at job A and $9 at job B. How many hours did she work at job A

Question

ANSWER CHOICES 

A. 8

B. 10

C. 13

D.18

Answer 1

Let's use the variable a for Job A, and the variable b for Job B.

 

8a + 9b = 226

 

And,

 

a + b = 26

 

Let's solve for a in the second equation:

 

a + b = 26         Subtract b from both sides

a = 26 - b

 

Now let's substitute the right side of the equation in for a in our very first equation:

 

8a + 9b = 226                Substitute for a

8(26 - b) + 9b = 226      Simplify

208 - 8b + 9b = 226        Add like terms

208 + b = 226                Subtract 208 from both sides

b = 18

 

Plug in 18 for b in our second equation:

 

a + b = 26          Substitute

a + 18 = 26        Subtract 18 from both sides

a = 8

 

So Edna worked 8 hours at Job A and 18 hours at Job B.