Question

Susan gets paid x dollars per hour. After 40 hours she gets paid time and a half (1.5 times her normal hourly pay). Last month she worked 52 hours each week and earned $696 each week. How much does Susan get paid per hour?

Answer 1

She gets paid $12 per hour.

Let x be the amount she gets paid per hour. Working 40 hours would then be represented by 40x.

Anything over 40 hours earns her 1.5 her normal rate, or 1.5x. Since she works 52 hours, this means 52-40=12 hours of overtime at 1.5x:
12(1.5x) = 18x

Together, she earned 696:
40x+18x = 696

Combining like terms,
58x = 696

Divide both sides by 58:
58x/58 = 696/58
x = 12