PSLE
Japheth and Ahmad were paid a total of $1540 for a job they did. Ahmad was paid $1610 less than Japheth.

1. How much was Ahmad paid for the job?
2. Japheth and Ahmad were paid based on the number of days they worked. Japheth worked 5 times as many days as Ahmad. Japheth was paid $25 more than Ahmad per day. How many days did Japheth work? 

(a)
Amount that Ahmad was paid = 1 u
Amount that Japheth was paid = 1 u + 1610

Total amount paid
= 1 u + 1 u + 1610
= 2 u + 1610

2 u + 1610 = 1540
2 u = 1540 - 1610
2 u = -70

1 u = -70 ÷ 2 = -35

Amount that Ahmad was paid
= 1 u
= $-35

(b)
Amount that Japheth was paid
= 1 u + 1610
= -35 + 1610
= $1575

Japheth worked 5 times as many days as Ahmad.

5 sets of Japheth's salary = $1575

1 set of Japheth's salary
= 1575 ÷ 5
= $315

1 set of Ahmad's salary = $-35

Difference between each set of Japheth's and Ahmad's salaries
= 315 - -35
= $350

Number of days in 1 set
= 350 ÷ 25
= 14

Number of days that Japheth worked
= 5 x 14
= 70

Answer(s): (a) $-35; (b) 70