Question

At a law firm, new associates earn an average of $$\$ 2,800$$ more per month than new paralegals do. The firm employs 15 new associates and \(z\) more new associates than new paralegals. If the average pay for a new paralegal is represented by \(p\), then use numbers and variables from the figure bank to indicate the correct equation for the total monthly payroll of these new employees. (For this practice test, write the figures in the boxes.) p 12 z 2,800 15

Short answer

The total monthly payroll for these new employees can be represented by the equation: \(Total\: Pay = p \cdot (15 - z) + (p + 2,800)\cdot 15\).

Step-by-step solution

Monthly payroll of new paralegals

Let's first find out the monthly payroll of new paralegals. As there are \(z\) more new associates than new paralegals, there must be a total of \(15 - z\) new paralegals. The individual pay of a new paralegal is represented by \(p\). So, the total payroll for new paralegals can be represented as: \(Pay_{paralegals} = p \cdot (15 - z)\)

Monthly payroll of new associates

The monthly pay for new associates can be represented as an average of \(2,800 more per month than new paralegals which means \)(p + 2,800)$. Since the firm has 15 new associates, the total monthly payroll for new associates can be represented as: \(Pay_{associates} = (p + 2,800) \cdot 15\)

Combine both payrolls to get the total monthly payroll

Now, we need to combine both the payrolls to get an equation for the total monthly payroll: \(Total\: Pay = Pay_{paralegals} + Pay_{associates}\) Replace \(Pay_{paralegals}\) and \(Pay_{associates}\) with their respective expressions from Steps 1 and 2. So the total monthly payroll equation becomes: \(Total\: Pay = p \cdot (15 - z) + (p + 2,800)\cdot 15\)