How much does Robin earn?

Question

Robin Hartman earns $560 per week plus 3% of sales over $6,500. Robin’s sales are $10,800. How much does Robin earn?

Answer 1

560 + 0.03(10800 - 6500)

Answer 2

First, you will want to calculate how much Robin earns based on commission. They earn 3% on sales over $6,500. Sine $10,800, Robin will receive 3% commission, so we'll have to figure out what 3% of $10,800 is. To figure out percentages, I always use a technique a teacher taught me where I think, "Percent is of 100." The calculation look like this:

 

PERCENT = IS

OF              100

 

In this problem, you are trying to figure out the percent section, which is the actual commission Robin makes on the sale. We know "of" is $10,800 and "is" is 3%. TIf we write it out, the problem will look like this:

 

COMMISSION = 3 

10,800              100

 

From here, you will multiply each side by 10,800. This is because 10,800 divided by 10,800 is 1. Showing the steps, it will look like this:

 

10,800 X COMMISSION = 3     X 10,800

1             10,800             100     1

 

1 X 10,800 =10,800 and 100 X 1 = 100, so the problem looks like this:

 

10,800 X COMMISSION = 3 X 10,800
10,800                            100

 

10,800 = 1, so we're left with:

 

COMMISSION = 3 X 10,800

                        100

 

From here, we just have to do the calculations. 

 

3 X 10,800 = 32,400

100              100

 

A quick way to divide by 100 is to simply move the decimal place to the left two times, making 32,400 equal 32.40.

 

32,400 = 32.40

100          1

 

This shows that Robin makes $32.40 in commission. From here, you just have to add Robin's weekly wage ($560).

 

560 + 32.40 = 

 

Robin makes $592.40.

 

Answer 3

The total Robin earns is her weekly salary plus 3% commission on sales that exceed $6500. If her total sales amount to $10,800, then the amount by which her sales exceed $6500 (i.e. the amount for which she is eligible to earn the 3% commission) is given by $10800 - $6500 = $4300.

 

Thus the total she earns is

 

$560 + ($10,800 - $6500)(.03) = $689.