Question

Jim makes $8.50 an hour. Each week, 11% of his total pay is deducted for taxes. How many hours does Jim have to work if he wants his take-home pay to be at least $300 per week? Write and solve an inequality for this situation.

Answer 1

If Jim makes $8.50 an hour and 11% of his total pay is deducted for taxes, then…
$8.50x0.011=$0.935
8.50-0.94 (round up from 0.935 to 0.94 since we can’t and don’t pay a half of a cent)
=$7.56

If Jim wants to take home at least $300 a week (after taxes), then:
$300/$7.56
=39.68
=40 (rounded up, since we usually pay by hour)

Therefore, Jim would have to work 40 hours to take him at least $300 a week.