Your friend earns $12.50 per hour. This is 125% of her hourly wage last year. How much did your friend earn per hour last year?

Question

Your friend earns $12.50 per hour. This is 125% of her hourly wage last year. How much did your friend earn per hour last year?

Answer 1

12.5 IS 125% of x, where x is the hourly rate last year.

Translating that into an algebraic equation looks like this:

12.5 = 1.25 (x) : The word "IS" becomes an equal sign. The word "of" means multiplication.

To solve the equation divide both sides by 1.25.

x = 12.5 / 1.25

x= 10

So last years hourly rate was $10 an hour.