Question

Percy works two part-time jobs to help pay for college classes. On Monday, he works 3 hours at the library and 2 hours at the coffee cart and earns $36.50. On Tuesday, he works 2 hours at the library and 5 hours at the coffee cart and earns $50. His hourly wage at the library, x, and hourly wage at the coffee cart, y, can be determined using the system of equations below3x + 2y = 36.50
2x + 5y = 50.00
At which job does Percy earn the greater hourly wage? How much does Percy earn each hour at this job?

Answer 1

For the answer to the two questions above,
3x + 2y = 36.50 (I)
2x + 5y = 50 (II)
Eliminating x from the two equations by subtraction:
first we multiply equation I by 2 and equation II by 3
6x + 4y = 73
6x + 15y = 150
Subtracting the two,
-11y = -77
y = 7
He earns $7 at the coffee cart
Substituting y into equation I,
3x + 14 = 36.5
x = $7.50

So we can conclude that, he earns a greater wage of $7.50 at the library,

Answer 2

Hello there.

Percy works two part-time jobs to help pay for college classes. On Monday, he works 3 hours at the library and 2 hours at the coffee cart and earns $36.50. On Tuesday, he works 2 hours at the library and 5 hours at the coffee cart and earns $50. His hourly wage at the library, x, and hourly wage at the coffee cart, y, can be determined using the system of equations below3x + 2y = 36.50
2x + 5y = 50.00
At which job does Percy earn the greater hourly wage? How much does Percy earn each hour at this job?

x = $7.50