If a building contractor hires 5 day laborers and 2 concrete finishers, his payroll for the day is $1200. If he hire 1 day laborer and 4 concrete finishers, his daily cost is $924. Find the daily wage for each type of worker.

Answer 1

set up system of equations:

x = wage of laborers
y = wage of concrete finishers

5x+2y = 1200
x+4y = 924

Now solve the system of equations:
from the second equation, isolating x we get:

x = 924 - 4y

now plug that into the first equation:
5(924-4y)+2y=1200
y = 190

now plug y back into one of the equations to find x:

x+4(190) = 924

x = 164

daily wage of laborer = 164
daily wage of concrete finishers = 190

Answer 2

Thanks DonHo