Paul has a job raking leaves for a neighbor. He makes $7.70 an hour, plus $.45 for each bag he fills. Last Saturday he worked five hours and made a total of $39.85. How many bags of leaves did he fill?

Question

Paul has a job raking leaves for a neighbor. He makes $7.70 an hour, plus $.45 for each bag he fills.  Last Saturday he worked five hours and made a total of $39.85.  How many bags of leaves did he fill?

Avery Alexander · Accepted Answer

He filled #3# bags of leaves.

We can answer this question by forming an equation. Let the number of bags be #x#. Paul is paid #$0.45# for each bag. So the money from the bags, plus the hourly rate adds up #$39.85# #0.45x +5 xx 7.70 = 39.85# #0.45x +38.50 = 39.85# #0.45x = 39.85-38.50# #0.45x = 1.35# #x = 1.35/0.45# #x =3#

Jameson Allen · Answer

undefined To find the number of bags of leaves Paul filled, we can set up an equation using the given information. Let $ b $ represent the number of bags he filled.

The total amount Paul made can be calculated as follows:
$$ \text{Total earnings} = \text{Hourly rate} \times \text{Number of hours} + \text{Rate per bag} \times \text{Number of bags} $$

Given that he worked for 5 hours and made a total of $39.85, we have:
$$ 39.85 = 7.70 \times 5 + 0.45 \times b $$

Now, solve for $ b $.

$$ 39.85 = 38.50 + 0.45b $$
$$ 0.45b = 39.85 - 38.50 $$
$$ 0.45b = 1.35 $$
$$ b = \frac{1.35}{0.45} $$
$$ b = 3 $$

Paul filled 3 bags of leaves.