Question

Bud earned \(\$ 750\) for a 40-hour week. What is Bud's rate of pay? A. \(\$ 16.00\) per hour B. \(\$ 18.75\) per hour C. \(\$ 24.00\) per hour D. \(\$ 30.00\) per hour

Short answer

\( \$ 18.75 \) per hour

Step-by-step solution

Identify Given Values

Bud earned \( \$ 750 \) for working 40 hours in a week. We need to find his hourly pay rate.

Set Up the Equation

To find the hourly rate, divide the total amount earned by the number of hours worked. The equation to use is: \[ \text{Hourly Rate} = \frac{\text{Total Earnings}}{\text{Total Hours Worked}} \]

Substitute the Values

Plug in the given values into the equation: \[ \text{Hourly Rate} = \frac{750}{40} \]

Perform the Calculation

Calculate the division: \[ \text{Hourly Rate} = 18.75 \]

Interpret the Result

According to the calculation, Bud's hourly pay rate is \( \$ 18.75 \).

Select the Correct Answer

From the given options, choice B. \( \$ 18.75 \) per hour is the correct answer.

Key concepts

Division

Division can be thought of as splitting a large group into smaller equal parts. In this problem, we need to divide the total earnings by the number of hours worked to find the hourly wage. This is written mathematically as: \[ \text{Hourly Rate} = \frac{\text{Total Earnings}}{\text{Total Hours Worked}} \]Division helps us determine how much one unit (in this case, one hour) gets from the total amount. Here, we have Bud's total earnings: \(750, and the total hours worked: 40 hours. Plugging these values into the equation, we perform the division: \[ \text{Hourly Rate} = \frac{750}{40} = 18.75 \] This means Bud earns \)18.75 for every hour he works.

Rate of Pay

The rate of pay is the amount of money earned for a specific amount of work, usually expressed on a per-hour basis. It's crucial for budgeting and financial planning. In our example, Bud's rate of pay was determined by dividing his total weekly earnings (\(750) by the number of hours he worked (40). This resulted in an hourly pay rate of \)18.75. Simply put, the rate of pay tells you how much you get paid for each hour you work. It is an essential figure for calculating weekly, monthly, or yearly income, and for comparing different job offers or roles.

Problem-Solving Steps

Solving math problems efficiently often requires a series of logical steps. Let’s break down the solution to our problem into clear steps:

• Step 1: Identify Given Values. Here, Bud earned \(750 in 40 hours.


• Step 2: Set Up the Equation: \[ \text{Hourly Rate} = \frac{\text{Total Earnings}}{\text{Total Hours Worked}} \]


• Step 3: Substitute the Values: \[ \text{Hourly Rate} = \frac{750}{40} \]


• Step 4: Perform the Calculation: \[ \text{Hourly Rate} = 18.75 \]


• Step 5: Interpret the Result. Bud's hourly pay rate is \)18.75.


• Step 6: Select the Correct Answer. From the options given, $18.75 (Option B) is correct.

Following these steps ensures that no part of the problem-solving process is overlooked.

Basic Arithmetic

Basic arithmetic operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division are foundational skills in mathematics. In this particular problem, we applied division to find the hourly wage. Recall that: \[ \text{Hourly Rate} = \frac{\text{Total Earnings}}{\text{Total Hours Worked}} \]Knowing how to properly perform division is critical for various real-world situations such as budgeting, planning, and other financial calculations. When you divide 750 by 40, you are essentially distributing 750 dollars evenly over 40 hours, giving you a result of 18.75 dollars per hour. Mastery of basic arithmetic ensures accuracy and confidence in problem-solving.