RM 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

Answer: 9y

before the transfer of y dollars .. the hourly pay of john and mary are x/10 and x/8 ... once the transfer of y dollars is made the hourly wages for john and and mary are (x+y)/10 and (x-y)/8 ...

now these both are equal ... so ... (x+y)/10= (x-y)/8 .... solve the equation and u have x = 9y ... hence the answer ..