Question

James, Priya, and Siobhan work in a grocery store. James makes $9.00 per hour. Priya makes 20% more

than James, and Siobhan makes 5% less than Priya. How much does Siobhan make per hour?

Answer 1

Priya makes $10.8
Siobhan makes $10.26

Answer 2

Explanation:

Don't be too quick to answer 15% of some number. It may be right, but it is likely not.

James makes 9.00 dollars an hour

Priya makes 20% more than James. Stop. Figure that out.

9.00 * 1 + 25/100 * 9 = 9.00 + 2.25 = 11.25

Now, you can figure out 5% less.

Siobhan = 11,25 - 5/100 * 11.25

Siobhan = 11.25 - 0.05 * 11.25

Siobhan = 11.25 - 0.5625

Siobhan = 10.6875 = 10.69

There is no other way that I know of to go directly to Siobhan's wage other than doing it the long way -- at least for the level of math you are taking.

9 * (1.2 - 0.05) might work.

9 * (1.15)

= 10.35 which is close, but not correct.

Moral: do the math. Don't accept a guess as an answer.