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(E) 9ysaidov.mikhail wrote:John and Mary were each paid x dollars in advance to do a certain job together. John worked on the job for 10 hours and Mary worked 2 hours less than John. If Mary gave John y dollars of her payment so that they would have received the same hourly wage, what was the dollar amount, in terms of y, that John was paid in advance?
(A) 4y
(B) 5y
(C) 6y
(D) 8y
(E) 9y
Let the hourly wage = $1 per hour.saidov.mikhail wrote:John and Mary were each paid x dollars in advance to do a certain job together. John worked on the job for 10 hours and Mary worked 2 hours less than John. If Mary gave John y dollars of her payment so that they would have received the same hourly wage, what was the dollar amount, in terms of y, that John was paid in advance?
(A) 4y
(B) 5y
(C) 6y
(D) 8y
(E) 9y
I have other approach. Together John and Mary worked for 18 hours and together were paid 2x dollars. So their hourly wage is 1/9x. Since y is the difference between x and amount that John received in the end, to get y we can substract x from 1/9x multiplied by 10 hours: x - 10/9x = 1/9x. So y = 1/9x => x=9yganeshrkamath wrote:(E) 9ysaidov.mikhail wrote:John and Mary were each paid x dollars in advance to do a certain job together. John worked on the job for 10 hours and Mary worked 2 hours less than John. If Mary gave John y dollars of her payment so that they would have received the same hourly wage, what was the dollar amount, in terms of y, that John was paid in advance?
(A) 4y
(B) 5y
(C) 6y
(D) 8y
(E) 9y
John's wages for 10 hours = x + y
Mary's wages for 8 hours = x - y
On solving,
x = 9/hour
y = 1/hour
So x = 9y
One more approach:saidov.mikhail wrote:John and Mary were each paid x dollars in advance to do a certain job together. John worked on the job for 10 hours and Mary worked 2 hours less than John. If Mary gave John y dollars of her payment so that they would have received the same hourly wage, what was the dollar amount, in terms of y, that John was paid in advance?
(A) 4y
(B) 5y
(C) 6y
(D) 8y
(E) 9y
Brent@GMATPrepNow wrote:One more approach:saidov.mikhail wrote:John and Mary were each paid x dollars in advance to do a certain job together. John worked on the job for 10 hours and Mary worked 2 hours less than John. If Mary gave John y dollars of her payment so that they would have received the same hourly wage, what was the dollar amount, in terms of y, that John was paid in advance?
(A) 4y
(B) 5y
(C) 6y
(D) 8y
(E) 9y
Salary
John's net salary was x + y dollars (because Mary gave John y dollars)
Mary's net salary was x - y dollars
Hours worked
John worked 10 hours
Mary worked 8 hours
In the end, John and Mary received the same hourly wage.
So, John's hourly wage = Mary's hourly wage
Hourly wage = (total salary)/(hours worked)
(x + y)/10 = (x - y)/8
In terms of y, that John was paid in advance?
In other words, what is the value of x (in terms of y)
So, we'll solve our equation for x.
Take (x + y)/10 = (x - y)/8 and cross multiply to get:
10(x - y) = 8(x + y)
Expand: 10x - 10y = 8x + 8y
Rearrange: 2x = 18y
Divide by 2: x = 9y
So, John's advance payment = [spoiler]x = 9y = E[/spoiler]
Cheers,
Brent
The problem starts with the part highlighted above in blue.gmattesttaker2 wrote: I was wondering if you can please tell me where I am going wrong here:
Since John was paid x dollars and he worked for 10 hours, for 1 hour he was paid x/10 dollars
Since Mary was paid x dollars and she worked for 8 hours, for 1 hour she was paid x/8 dollars
Mary then gave John y dollars so that their hourly wages are the same i.e.
x/8 = x/10 + y
=> x/8 - x/10 = y
On solving, x = 40y
I think I am going wrong when I take, x/8 = x/10 + y
Can you please assist with this? Thanks a lot for all your help.
Best Regards,
Sri
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