Question

The total number, n, of employees at a company depends on the company's yearly gross profits according to the equation n=10p+20, where p is the yearly gross profit in millions of dollars. If the yearly gross profit declined from 20 million dollars to 15 million dollars, what was the decrease in the number of employees?

Answer 1

50

Explanation:

In the expression
`n=10p+20,` p represents the yearly gross profit in millions of dollars and n represents the total number of employees.

When the yearly gross profit was 20 million dollars, then the number of employees was

`n=10\cdot 20+20=200+20=220.`

When the yearly gross profit was 15 million dollars, then the number of employees was

`n=10\cdot 15+20=150+20=170.`

Hence, the decrease in the number of employees is

`220-170=50.`