Ezra works two summer jobs to save for a laptop that costs at least $1100. He charges $15/hr to mow lawns and $10/hr to walk dogs. He currently charges in half-hour intervals. Recall the inequality that represents this situation: .Ezra decides to charge per dog instead of per hour. How does the solution set change? What are the limitations on x and y? Explain.

Answer:

The solution set changes because the allowed values for y are now whole numbers, as Ezra cannot walk a fraction of a dog. Previously, y represented hours and was restricted to non-negative multiples of 0.5. The limitations on x remain the same: x must be a non-negative multiple of 0.5 because Ezra still charges by the half-hour for mowing lawns. Both variables must be non-negative because he cannot work negative hours or walk a negative number of dogs.