How much money was deducted from the man's pay for absences in January?

[mathdad]

A man is paid N20 for working full time and N2 is deducted everytime he is absent.
If at the end of the month of January, the money worked is N350 including absent days, how much was his absent pay?

My Work:

How close does 20 go into 350 without a remainder?

340 ÷ 20 = 17

350 - 340 = 10

2 times what = 10?

2 x 5 = 10

So, his absent pay is N5.

Correct?

If not correct, can someone set up the proper equation needed?

 

[MarkFL]

I would look at multiples of 20 greater than 350. The smallest of these is 360. So, we may write

$$350=360-10=18\cdot20-5\cdot2$$

18 days working and 5 days absent, for a total of 23 days. Now, we observe that for every working day we add, we must add 10 absent days, and since we are already at 23 days, adding 11 will be more than the number of days in January. So, this is the only possible solution. Therefore, his absent pay is -N10.

 

[mathdad]

I would look at multiples of 20 greater than 350. The smallest of these is 360. So, we may write

$$350=360-10=18\cdot20-5\cdot2$$

18 days working and 5 days absent, for a total of 23 days. Now, we observe that for every working day we add, we must add 10 absent days, and since we are already at 23 days, adding 11 will be more than the number of days in January. So, this is the only possible solution. Therefore, his absent pay is -N10.

You meant N10 not -N10, right?

 

[MarkFL]

You meant N10 not -N10, right?

No, it is a deduction, so it is a negative value. :D

 

[mathdad]

Thanks.