Final answer:
The student's question involves mathematically determining how to allocate hours between two jobs to stay within a weekly limit and meet a minimum income requirement. By setting up equations for total allowed hours and minimum income, the student can find the right balance to achieve their financial goals.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question involves creating a budget and understanding how working hours, wages, and government assistance interact to affect total income. You are permitted to work a maximum of 15 hours per week between your two jobs, with babysitting paying $10 per hour and dog walking paying $8 per hour. Your goal is to make at least $80 per week to cover your expenses.
To ensure you meet your minimum income requirement, let's set up an equation where x is the number of hours you work babysitting, and y is the number of hours you work dog walking. The equation based on hours worked would be: x + y ≤ 15, ensuring you do not exceed the 15-hour limit. The equation based on income would be: 10x + 8y ≥ 80, ensuring you earn at least $80.
You can use these equations to determine how many hours you need to work at each job to both stay within your hourly limit and meet your income goal. For instance, if you babysit for all 15 hours, you would earn $150, which is above your $80 goal. However, if you only dog walk, you would need to work 10 hours to reach your $80 minimum. You could also split your time between the two jobs, such as babysitting for 5 hours ($50) and dog walking for 5 hours ($40) to meet the minimum income goal exactly.