It is currently 24 Feb 2018, 19:19

### GMAT Club Daily Prep

#### Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

# Events & Promotions

###### Events & Promotions in June
Open Detailed Calendar

# John and Mary were each paid x dollars in advance to do a

Author Message
TAGS:

### Hide Tags

Target Test Prep Representative
Status: Founder & CEO
Affiliations: Target Test Prep
Joined: 14 Oct 2015
Posts: 2192
Location: United States (CA)
Re: John and Mary were each paid x dollars in advance to do a [#permalink]

### Show Tags

04 May 2016, 08:33
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

We are first given that John worked for 10 hours and that Mary worked for 2 hours less than John. So we can say:

John’s hours = 10

Mary’s hours = 8

We are also given that John and Mary were each given x dollars in advance. We can use this to determine the hourly wage for both Mary and John.

Since (hourly wage)(# of hours) = total paid, we can say that:

hourly wage = (total paid)/(# of hours)

John’s hourly wage = x/10

Mary’s hourly wage = x/8

We are also told that Mary gave John y dollars of her payment so that they would have an equal hourly wage. This means that Mary actually made x – y dollars. Since John received y dollars he now makes x + y dollars. Using this information, the hourly wages of John and Mary are:

Mary’s wage = (x – y)/8

John’s wage = (x + y)/10

Since we are told that the two hourly wages are the same, we can set the hourly wages of John and Mary equal to each other.

(x + y)/10 = (x – y)/8

We can cross multiply and we get:

8x + 8y = 10x – 10y

-2x = -18y

x = 9y

_________________

Scott Woodbury-Stewart
Founder and CEO

GMAT Quant Self-Study Course
500+ lessons 3000+ practice problems 800+ HD solutions

Math Expert
Joined: 02 Aug 2009
Posts: 5662
Re: John and Mary were each paid x dollars in advance to do a [#permalink]

### Show Tags

04 May 2016, 08:42
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

Hi,
A simple way to look at the problem is ..
they were paid x for equal hours..
so the time was supposed to be$$\frac{10+8}{2} = 9$$ hr..
M gives y dollar to J since she worked one hour less and J worked 1 hr more than 9.. so hourly wage is y..
for 9 hours wage = 9y = x

E
_________________

Absolute modulus :http://gmatclub.com/forum/absolute-modulus-a-better-understanding-210849.html#p1622372
Combination of similar and dissimilar things : http://gmatclub.com/forum/topic215915.html

BANGALORE/-

SVP
Joined: 11 Sep 2015
Posts: 2069
Re: John and Mary were each paid x dollars in advance to do a [#permalink]

### Show Tags

01 May 2017, 04:56
1
KUDOS
Expert's post
Top Contributor
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
Mary's NET salary was x - y dollars (because Mary gave John y dollars)
John's NET salary was x + y dollars

Hours worked
Mary worked 8 hours
John worked 10 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)
So, (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 = x = 9y = E

Cheers,
Brent
_________________

Brent Hanneson – Founder of gmatprepnow.com

Manager
Joined: 14 May 2015
Posts: 52
Re: John and Mary were each paid x dollars in advance to do a [#permalink]

### Show Tags

03 May 2017, 13:47
average hourly wage= total wage/hour worked
Re: John and Mary were each paid x dollars in advance to do a   [#permalink] 03 May 2017, 13:47

Go to page   Previous    1   2   [ 24 posts ]

Display posts from previous: Sort by