Question

Shelton earns and hourly wage at a grocery store. The following expression represents Shelton's take home pay after taxes, social security, and his health care plan deducted. Let x represent the number of hours Shelton worked.
10.25x - .21(10.25x)

What percentage is deducted from Shelton's pay for taxes, social security, and health care plan?

Answer 1

If x represents the number of hours Shelton worked, then the expression 10.25x shows how much Shelton is paid for these x hours ($10.25 for an hour).

After taxes, social security, and his health care plan were deducted he earned

10.25x - 0.21(10.25x).

This means that taxes, social security, and his health care plan form 21% (0.21 as decimal) from 10.25x.

Answer: 21%