A master electrician earns $62 per hour. His apprentice earns $40 per hour. The master electrician works 3 hours more than the apprentice. If together they are paid $492, how much does the master electrician earn? Responses A $292$292 B $312$312 C $332$332 D $372
Let x be the number of hours the apprentice works. Then the master electrician works x + 3 hours.
The total amount paid to the apprentice is 40x, and the total amount paid to the master electrician is 62(x + 3).
The total amount paid is $492, so we can write the equation:
40x + 62(x + 3) = 492
40x + 62x + 186 = 492
102x + 186 = 492
102x = 306
x = 3
The master electrician works x + 3 = 3 + 3 = 6 hours, and earns 62 * 6 = $372. Therefore, the answer is D) $372.