Question

A paralegal makes $12 more per hour than an assistant. If the combined hourly wage of the paralegal and assistant is $38, what is the hourly wage of the assistant?

A. $11
B. $12
C. $13
D. $14

Answer 1

if you subtract the 12 so that the hourly wages are equal at each job, then divide by 2 the answer is C)13

Answer 2

the total of salaries must be x + y = 38, here x is the sary of paralegal and y is the salary of assistant.
We have too the salary of paralegal is 12 more than the assist so x=y+12
Solve the system, you can replace x into the first equation:
y+12+y=38
2y=38-12
y=26/2
y=13 this is the salary of assistant