Question

Okay somebody please help me figure out if this piecewise function is right and how to graph it? (Will give medal & fan)

I had to make a function for this scenario:
"A local store owner pays her employees time-and-a-half for overtime. That means if an employee works more than 40 hours per week, the store will pay him 1.5 times his regular hourly wage of $6.50."

"Write and graph a piecewise function that illustrates an employee's weekly pay, W, as a function of the number of hours, h, that employee works"

Answer 1

The function I have is f(h) = 6.50*40 + (h - 40)9.75 or f(h) = 260 + (h - 40)9.75, I'm not quite sure where the W goes though...

Answer 2

@phi I'm sorry I keep asking you for help but you usually seem of more help to me than most others /:

Answer 3

hey @TammisaurusRex i think the w goes for the weekly pay so i assume it goes after 40

Answer 4

so, f(h) = 260 + (h - 40w)9.75?

Answer 5

W, as a function of the number of hours, h, means
W(h)= stuff

in other words, instead of f(h), just use W(h)

Answer 6

so itwould be 40w yes

Answer 7

ohhh!! okay @phi , that makes sense. so W(h) = 260 + (h - 40)9.75?

Answer 8

And how would I graph that?

Answer 9

sorry i couldnt help

Answer 10

yes, but that is only true if h≥40 hours

if they work 20 hours, you will get the wrong answer.
that is why they say
Write and graph a *piecewise* function

you will have a function with two different pieces

Answer 11

Oh okay.. how do I do that?

Answer 12

you write down
W(h)= whatever works for when h<40 and then write

W(h) = equation 1 if h<40
= equation 2 if h≥ 40

Answer 13

See
http://www.mathsisfun.com/sets/functions-piecewise.html
and scroll down to
And this is how you write it:
to see how one of these looks

Answer 14

so
W(h) = 6.50h if h<40
W(h) = 260 + (h - 40)9.75 if h≥40
?

Answer 15

oh okay hold on reading that now

Answer 16

Oh okay I see

Answer 17

yes, though people use W(h) = { and then the two equations (see the link for the example)

But you can write it the way you did if you can't do it the "official way"

Answer 18

It would be a bit hard for me to do it the "official way" on microsoft word, lol so I'll write it the way I have it.

Answer 19

Thank you!

Answer 20

microsoft word has an equation editor that would let you do it that way...

Answer 21

sorry

Answer 22

Oh really? How do I find it?

Answer 23

And @C.A.M it's fine

Answer 24

see http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word-help/insert-an-equation-using-equation-editor-HP005190247.aspx
or try help

Answer 25

Oh okay, I got it. Thank you (:

Answer 26

Of course you have to learn how to use the equation editor. You could put that off for another day if you don't have the time. But it does make for nicer write-ups.

Answer 27

Here is what your function looks like when graphed