PSLE
Tom and John were paid a total of $1550 for a job they did. Tom was paid $1200 more than John.

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

(a)
Amount that John was paid = 1 u
Amount that Tom was paid = 1 u + 1200

Total amount paid
= 1 u + 1 u + 1200
= 2 u + 1200

2 u + 1200 = 1550
2 u = 1550 - 1200
2 u = 350

1 u = 350 ÷ 2 = 175

Amount that John was paid
= 1 u
= $175

(b)
Amount that Tom was paid
= 1 u + 1200
= 175 + 1200
= $1375

Tom worked 5 times as many days as John.

5 sets of Tom's salary = $1375

1 set of Tom's salary
= 1375 ÷ 5
= $275

1 set of John's salary = $175

Difference between each set of Tom's and John's salaries
= 275 - 175
= $100

Number of days in 1 set
= 100 ÷ 25
= 4

Number of days that Tom worked
= 5 x 4
= 20

Answer(s): (a) $175; (b) 20