Determine when XYZ Inc. has a better plan for raises and then when 123 Corp. has a better plan and how you know.

Question

XYZ Inc. uses the following function to model the raise an employee will receive each year: f(x)=35000+650x

123 Corp. uses a different model for raises: g(x)=30000+200(1.45)x‒1

x represents the number of years an employee has worked

Answer 1

Hi ariana,

in order to help you can you clarify. is g(x) supposed to be g(x)=30000+200(1.45(x-1))?

however the correct equations should be written the approach to the question will be the same.

Now I do have concern with the wording of the question. What do they mean by "better"? is it an open ended question where you are deciding what better means?

Either way, I think a great approach would be to graph these two linear equations. you can use an online service like desmos graphic calculator.

Then you will be able to use the visual of the two to help you describe when each one is better.

If i'm approching it from the potential employee perspective i will want to compare initial starting salaries and then how they are growing each year. Consider is there one that might be better for shorter term emloyment where i will make more upfront versus one than might be better longer term past a certain number of years? is there a year where i will be making the same either one i choose?

if you want/ need to show the work. sketch the graph on your paper that you got from desmos.

or you can to the work by hand to find when f(x)=g(x), or number of years it takes to be paid the same by both. then use the features of the functions to describe which one is better. i.e f(x)=initial salary+how salary changes*number of years