Sam's employer deducts 20% in payroll and state taxes from his base before writing his paycheck. Sam's monthly paycheck is 1,600.

Part A : What's sam's salary before the deductions for payroll and state taxes?

Part B: Sam puts1/5 of his paycheck into a saving account each month how much does he save each month?

Part C: Sam is getting a 10% raise next month. What will be his salary be before deductions? Sam's employer will still deduct 20% for taxes. What will his paycheck be next month?

Question

Sam's employer deducts 20% in payroll and state taxes from his base before writing his paycheck. Sam's monthly paycheck is 1,600.

Part A : What's sam's salary before the deductions for payroll and state taxes?

Part B: Sam puts1/5 of his paycheck into a saving account each month how much does he save each month?

Part C: Sam is getting a 10% raise next month. What will be his salary be before deductions? Sam's employer will still deduct 20% for taxes. What will his paycheck be next month?

mathmale · Answer

It'd probably help to regard this as an algebra problem:  Let x represent the amount of Sam's base pay.  If you can find x, then you have solved Part A.  
Sam's employer deducts 20% of Sam's base pay.  Sam ends up receiving $1,600.  Write an algebraic equation involving x.  Find x.

alina123 · Answer

I got $320 .

mathmale · Answer

But, Alina, how could it be that Sam's gross (base) pay was $320, but he received $1,600?  Sounds like a good deal, but an extremely unlikely one.

Please, show me your work.  Then I can give you more meaningful feedback on it.

alina123 · Answer

oh ok i just did 1600 divided my .2 to get the salary

alina123 · Answer

how about 2,000 , 1600 divided by .80

mathmale · Answer

that's so much better.  Good for you!

mathmale · Answer

Part b:  How much is Sam's paycheck for?

alina123 · Answer

but i have a question is there another way to get the 80

mathmale · Answer

sure there are other ways.  I would have written (1-0.2)x=1600.  But your method is fine; you did the same thing as I did, but you did it in your head.

Part b:  How much is Sam's paycheck for?

alina123 · Answer

I got $ 320 here because of 1600 divided by 5

mathmale · Answer

Right.  This guy saves $320 per month.  (Smart guy!)

mathmale · Answer

What is Sam's base pay now?

alina123 · Answer

27,840

mathmale · Answer

??

What's sam's current base salary before the deductions for payroll and state taxes?

alina123 · Answer

2,000

mathmale · Answer

Right.  And now his employer gives him a 10% raise.  What will Sam's new base salary be?

alina123 · Answer

2,200

mathmale · Answer

Right.  Now how much will his actual paycheck be, after deductions?  (Please go back and re-read the original problem statement.)

alina123 · Answer

2,750

mathmale · Answer

But that'd be MORE than his base pay.  How'd that be possible?  Please show how you obtain your answers here.

alina123 · Answer

ok |dw:1398522441492:dw|