Stacy and Melissa work as waitresses. They both earn $7.75 per hour, plus tips. Last weekend, Stacy worked x number of hours and earned $153.95 in tips. Melissa worked y number of hours and earned $129.02 in tips. Stacy determined that using the expression 7.75x + 153.95 + 7.75y + 129.02 will calculate the amount the girls earned together last weekend. Select another expression the girls could also use.

The complete question is as below:

Stacy and Melissa work as waitresses. They both earn $7.75 per hour, plus tips. Last weekend, Stacy worked x number of hours and earned $153.95 in tips. Melissa worked y number of hours and earned $129.02 in tips. Stacy determined that using the expression 7.75x + 153.95 + 7.75y + 129.02 will calculate the amount the girls earned together last weekend. Select another expression the girls could also use.

A. 7.75x + y + 282.97

B. 7.75 (x + y) + 282.97

C. 7.75 (xy) + 282.97

D. 7.75x + 7.75y - 282.97

Option B, 7.75 (x + y) + 282.97 is correct

Step-by-step explanation:

Stacy already calculated total earnings of both of them with expression

7.75x + 153.95 + 7.75y + 129.02

The expression can be rewritten by simplifying it

first and foremost we can arrange the expression as follows:

7.75x+7.75y+153.95+129.02

7.75 is common to 7.75x+7.75y

7.75 (x+y) + 153.95+129.02

the sum of these two numbers 153.95+129.02=282.97

7.75 (x+y) + 282.97

From all indications, option B is the correct answer out of all options provided

Option D is obviously because of the negative sign introduced since the requirement is to compute total earnings not the difference between the two earnings