Question

a cleaning service charges an hourly rate plus a flat fee of $15 for supplies. phillipe uses the service for 3.5 hours for his spring cleaning, and his total is $232. how can he correctly determine the hourly rate? divide the total cost, $232, by the number of hours, 3.5. then, subtract the flat fee, $15, from the quotient. divide the total cost, $232, by the number of hours, 3.5. then, add the flat fee, $15, to the quotient. add the supply fee, $15, to the total cost, $232. then, divide the sum by the number of hours, 3.5. subtract the supply fee, $15, from the total cost, $232. then, divide the difference by the number of hours, 3.5.

Explanation:

Step1: Isolate hourly cost total

Subtract flat fee from total cost:
$\$232 - \$15 = \$217$

Step2: Calculate hourly rate

Divide by number of hours:
$\frac{\$217}{3.5} = \$62$

Answer:

Subtract the supply fee, $15, from the total cost, $232. Then, divide the difference by the number of hours, 3.5.