Final answer:
To determine Maxwell's earnings for 30 hours of work, the unit rate of $18 per hour is first calculated by dividing his earnings of $99 by 5.5 hours. Multiplying this unit rate by 30 hours gives us Maxwell's total earnings of $540 for the week.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate Maxwell's earnings for 30 hours of work, we must first find the unit rate of his pay. Maxwell earns $99 for every 5.5 hours of work. To find the unit rate, we divide his earnings by the hours worked:
$99 ÷ 5.5 hours = $18 per hour.
Once we have the unit rate, we can then calculate his earnings for 30 hours:
$18 per hour × 30 hours = $540.
Therefore, Maxwell will earn $540 if he works for 30 hours this week.