Commissions

Date: 03/19/2002 at 18:52:11
From: Greg
Subject: Commissions

Mildred receives a 5% commission on her sales of exercise equipment 
and a 6% commission on her sales of weight training equipment. One 
month she sold $7900 worth of exercise equipment and made a total of 
$650 in commissions. How much were here sales of weight training 
equipment that month?

Date: 03/19/2002 at 23:23:15
From: Doctor Twe
Subject: Re: Commissions

Hi Greg - thanks for writing to Dr. Math.

Break the problem down by asking the following questions:

1. How much commission did Mildred earn on her sales of exercise 
   equipment? (Answer in dollars, not percentage.)

2. How much commission (dollars) did she therefore earn on her sales   
   of weight training equipment?

3. How many dollars of weight training equipment must she sell to earn 
   that much commission?

If you can answer those questions, you've found your answer.

I hope this helps. If you have any more questions, write back.

- Doctor TWE, The Math Forum
  http://mathforum.org/dr.math/   

Date: 03/20/2002 at 17:53:58
From: Greg
Subject: Commissions

I already did that, but what is the answer?

Date: 03/20/2002 at 23:40:29
From: Doctor Twe
Subject: Re: Commissions

Hi Greg - thanks for writing back.

1. Did you get:

     $7,900 * 5% = $7,900 * .05 = $395

as Mildred's commission on her sales of exercise equipment?

2. And did you get:

     $650 - $395 = $255

as her commission on her sales of weight training equipment?

3. And then did you get:

       $255  =  X * .06

       $255     X * .06
       ----  =  -------
       .06        .06

     $4,250  =  X

as the amount of sales of weight training equipment must she sell to 
earn $255 commission?

If so, then you got the answer and don't need my help! 

If you have any more questions or comments, write back again.

- Doctor TWE, The Math Forum
  http://mathforum.org/dr.math/