Evaluating Algebraic Expressions Worksheet
NAME: __________________
Evaluate an Algebraic
Expression: To find the
value of an expression by
replacing each variable in
an expression with
numbers.
Business principles can be converted to algebraic expressions or
formulas. Then the expressions or formulas can be used to solve business
problems. In these next examples you will be using expressions and
formulas to help find business solutions.
a) What is her new hourly salary if her
old hourly salary was $9?
SOLUTION: Let s=Kim’s hourly salary
Then 1.08s is an algebraic expression
for Kim’s new hourly salary.
a) Kim’s new hourly salary is
1.08($9)=$9.72
b) What is Kim’s new yearly salary if
she makes $32,433 per year?
b) Use the same expression:
1.08($32,433)=$35,027.64
EX: Kim receives an 8% salary
increase.
1. Len’s Discount Tires had a 3% decrease in payroll. Use the algebraic
expression .97p to find the new payroll costs for each old cost:
a. Old payroll p = $156,000
New payroll = ____________
b. Old payroll p = $185,459
New payroll = ____________
c. Old payroll p = $329,122
New payroll = ____________
2. Jen’s Plumbing Service makes $38 plus $40 per hour for each service call.
Use the algebraic expression $38 + $40h to find here wages for each service
call:
a. Service call for h = 3 hours
Earnings = ____________
b. Service call for h = 4 ½ hours
Earnings = ____________
c. Service call for h = 45 minutes
Earnings = ____________
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3. Nellie makes $1.50 for every page she creates from a court reporter’s
stenotype machine. Use the algebraic expression $1.50p to find her wages for
recording each different job:
a. Murder Case, p = 450 pages
Earnings = ____________
b. Shoplifting Case, p = 38 pages
Earnings = ____________
c. Auto Theft Case, p = 167 pages
Earnings = ____________
4. Denise is a realtor who makes 2.7% commission on every home she sells.
Use the algebraic expression .027p to find her wages for each of her sales during
the month of May:
a. Sales price p = $327,000
Earnings = ____________
b. Sales price p = $169,000
Earnings = ____________
c. Sales price p = $233,000
Earnings = ____________
5. Eddie is a telemarketer who sells carpet cleaning services. He makes $2 per
hour plus 15% of his sales. Use the algebraic expression $2h + .15s to find his
wages for 3 days of work:
a. Monday, h = 4.5 hours and s = $340 Earnings = ____________
b. Tuesday, h = 8 hours and s = $950
Earnings = ____________
c. Monday, h = 2 hours and s = $440
Earnings = ____________
6. James is a manager for a fast food hamburger stand. He makes a straight
salary of $28,000 in 2004 but will receive a $2,000 raise every year. Use the
algebraic expression $28,000 + $2,000y to find his salary for each of the
following years of experience:
a. Year 2005
Earnings = ____________
b. Year 2008
Earnings = ____________
c. Year 2020
Earnings = ____________
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7. Roy is a manager of a computer store. His yearly earnings are based on a
salary of $18,000 plus 3% commission on all sales made in the store. He also
receives a raise of $1,500 for each year of service. Use the algebraic expression
$18,000 + $1,500y +.03s to find his yearly salary in each of the following years:
a. Year 2005; s = $100,000
Earnings = ____________
b. Year 2008; s = $128,000
Earnings = ____________
c. Year 2020; s = $400,000
Earnings = ____________
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