Final answer:
To determine the father's minimum hourly wage to meet the monthly budget, multiply the hourly wage by the total working hours in a month and set it equal to the monthly total expenses. The equation is w * 160 hours = $5,695, and solving for w gives a minimum hourly wage of $35.59375.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student is asking for an equation to determine the father's minimum hourly wage, given the family's monthly total expenses. To calculate this, we will use the information provided about the father's work schedule. The father works 40 hours per week, and with an assumption of four weeks in a month, this translates to a total of 40 hours/week * 4 weeks/month = 160 hours/month. The family's monthly total expenses amount to $5,695.
The equation to find the minimum hourly wage w is therefore as follows:
w * 160 hours = $5,695
To solve for w, we divide both sides of the equation by 160 hours:
w = $5,695 / 160 hours
w = $35.59375
Therefore, the father's minimum hourly wage needed to meet the family's estimated minimum monthly budget would be $35.59375 per hour.