Question

An employment agency specializing in temporary construction help pays heavy equipment operators $138 per day and general laborers $87 per day. if thirty-three people were hired and the payroll is $4044? How many heavy equipment operators were employed? How many laborers were employed?

Answer 1

L = 2,

O = 31

Explanation:

First using the givens, write out some formulas.

Heavy equipment operators = O

General laborers = L

• O + L = 33
• 138O + 87L = 4044

Now use substitution, it doesn't matter which one you substitute.

• O = -L +33
• 138( -L + 33 ) + 87L = 4044

Distribute and solve for L.

• -138L + 4554 + 87L = 4044
• -138L - 87L = 4044 - 4554
• -225L = -510
• L = -510/-225
• L = 2

L = 2, meaning number of laborers employed is 2.

Now plug 2 = L into one of the original equations.

• O + L = 33
• O + 2 = 33
• O = 33 - 2
• O = 31

O = 31, meaning number of heavy equip. operators employed is 31.