Question

Cole earns $12.50 per hour and will receive a $0.75 per hour raise every year. Adam earns $10.50 per hour and will receive a $2 per hour raise every other year. The chart shows the expected hourly pay rates for Cole and Adam for the first six years.
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Assuming the pattern continues, which hourly pay rate will each earn in the year when they are making the same amount per hour?

Answer 1

The equation for Cole's earnings per hour is
y = 12.5 + 0.75x
for Amad's:
y = 10.50 + 2x/2

When we equate them
12.5 + 0.75x = 10.50 + 2x/2
Solving for x
x = 2
They will have the same earning rate after 2 years