Question

Whitney sells cars at a local dealership. She receives a monthly salary of $904.00 and a $159.00 commission on each car she sells. If Whitney receives her commission check at the end of the month along with her salary check, which of the following equations can be used to determine her total pay for the month?

(Let x represent the number of policies sold and y represent the total amount of pay for the month.)
A.
y = 904x + 159
B.
y = 159x
C.
y = 159x + 904
D.
y = 15.9x + 904

Answer 1

The equation can be used to determine her total pay for the month is

y = 159x + 904 ⇒ C

Explanation:

The form of the linear equation is y = m x + b, where

• m is the slope ⇒ rate of change

• b is the y-intercept ⇒ initial amount

∵ Whitney receives a monthly salary of $904.00

→ It is a fixed amount

∴ The initial amount of her salary is $904.00

∴ b = 904

∵ She takes a $159.00 commission on each car she sells

→ That means the commission is changing with the number of cars sold

∴ The commission is the rat of change

∴ m = 159

→ Substitute the values of m, b in the form of the equation above

∴ y = 159x + 904

The equations can be used to determine her total pay for the month is

y = 159x + 904