Create an equation which models this situation if x = the number of hours he spent babysitting and y = the number of hours he spent mowing lawns last week.

Question

John works two jobs. He earns $10 an hour babysitting his neighbor's children and $15 an hour mowing lawns in his neighborhood. Last week he worked a total of 20 hours and earned a total of $240

Answer 1

Hi Caitlyn,

10x+15y=240........Total amount John made

x+y=20..................Total number of hours he worked

Solving gives x=12 hrs, y=8 hrs

Jim Stanton

Answer 2

10x = the amount of money he earned babysitting

15y = the amount of money he earned mowing lawns

This means 10x+15y=240 and x+y=20

x=20-y and now we plug back into the original:

10(20-y)+15y=240

200-10y+15y=240

5y=40

y=8

x+y=20

x+8=20

x=12

so x=12 and y=8