Question

Addison earns a fixed hourly rate working as a sales clerk. If she works on a holiday, she earns a different hourly rate than she earns on a regular day. In one week, she earns $188.50 by working 5 hours on a holiday and 16 hours during regular days. A different week, she earns $254.00 by working 8 hours on a holiday and 20 hours during regular days.

How much more is Addison’s holiday hourly rate than her regular hourly rate?

$2.00
$8.50
$10.50
$19.00

Answer 1

Let h be the holiday rate and r the regular rate.

From the weeks:
5h + 16r = 188.50
8h + 20r = 254.00

Subtract the first from the second:
3h + 4r = 65.50

Multiply that by 4: 12h + 16r = 262.00. Subtract 5h + 16r = 188.50:
7h = 73.50 → h = 10.50. Then r = 8.50.

Difference = 10.50 − 8.50 = $2.00.

Answer: $2.00