Question

The lowest monthly commission that a salesman earned was only 1/5 more than 1/4 as high as the highest commision he earned. The highest and lowest comissions when added together equal $819. What was the lowest comission?

Answer 1

Answer: the lowest commission is $163.96

Step-by-step explanation:

Let x represent the lowest monthly commission that a salesman earned.

Let y represent the highest monthly commission that a salesman earned.

The lowest monthly commission that a salesman earned was only 1/5 more than 1/4 as high as the highest commission he earned. This means that

x = y/4 + 1/5 - - - - - - - - 1

The highest and lowest commissions when added together equal $819. This means that

x + y = 819

x = 819 - y - - - - - - -2

Substituting equation 2 into 1, it becomes

819 - y = y/4 + 1/5

Multiplying through by 20, it becomes

16380 - 20y = 5y + 4

25y = 16380 - 4 = 16376

y = 16376/25 = 655.04

x = 819 - 655.04 = 163.96