CEO Salaries In 2002, hourly wages for the top three
CEOs (chief executive officers) of U.S. corporations
were calculated based on their working 14 hours per
day for 365 days. Together the three CEOs made
$44,000 per hour. The top CEO earned $2,000 more per
hour than the combined hourly wages of the next two
top CEOs, and the top CEO earned $7,000 more per
hour than the next top CEO.
(a) Let x, y, and z be the hourly wages in thousands
of dollars for the top CEOs from greatest to least.
Write a system of equations whose solution gives
these hourly wages.
(b) Solve the system. Interpret the answer.
(c) The average American worker earned $16.23 per
hour in 2002. How many hours did the average
American work to earn an amount equal to one
hour of work by the top CEO in 2002?