describe function in text

Question

A worker has job offers from two companies. The information below summarizes the job offer from each company.

Company A:

1. Starting salary of $31,000
2. Raise of $3000 each year  

Company B:

1. Starting salary of $38,000
2. Raise of $2000 each year  

 

Part A:  Write an equation in terms of n years that can be used to determine the number of years when the salaries would be the same for both companies.

Part B: Use the equation you wrote in part A to determine the number of years it would take for the salaries to be the same for both companies. Use mathematics to support your answer. 

Answer 1

These types of problems really used to confuse me, too.

Let's say I make $25/hour and then after each year I get a $2 raise. What does that look like 3 years later?

25 + 2(3), right?

So, if I want to figure out how much I'd be making after any amount of years, it'd be...

25 + 2n

After 5 years, n = 5, so 25 + 2(5), etc.

31000 + 3000n = 38000 + 2000n

Now, do the algebra to solve for n for the answer to part B.

You got this.