Question

Bethany is paid time-and-a-half for each hour she works above her normal 40 hours each week. Last week, Bethany worked 44 hours and her gross pay was $575. how much did Bethany earn for each hour of overtime she worked?

Answer 1

Bethany worked a total of 44 hours, which means that she worked 40 normal hours and 4 extra hours.

Let x be the amount earned per 1 normal working hour since she earns a half more for each extra hour we can express the money earned above her 40 normal hours as 1.5 times x ( x+0.5*x = 1.5x), then we can express the gross pay like this:

gross pay = earnings per normal hour * normal hours + earnings per extra hour * extra hours

gross pay = x * normal hours + 1.5x * extra hours

As mentioned, she worked 40 normal hours and 4 extra hours, then we get:

gross pay = x*40 + 1.5x*4

gross pay = 40x + 1.5*4x

gross pay = 40x + 6x

gross pay = 46x

From the given information, we know that the gross pay equals $575, then we get:

575 = 46x

46x/46 = 575/46

x = 575/46

x=12.5

The amount earned with extra hours is 1.5x, then we get:

Extra hour earning = 1.5*12.5=18.75

Then, Bethany earned $18.75 for each extra hour