Question

Solving a Real-World Equation
Matt makes $80 a month mowing lawns. His friend James also mows lawns, but he makes x dollars less per month than Matt does. James makes a total of $816 per year. How much less each month does James make than Matt?

Equation: 12(80 – x) = 816

Solve the linear equation to find the value for x.

x =
How much does James earn each month?

Remember that x represents how much less per month James makes than Matt.

Answer 1

12(80 − x) = 816
80 − x = 816/12 = 68
x = 80 − 68 = 12

So James makes $12 less per month than Matt.
James earns 80 − 12 = $68 per month.