The problem asks for the employee's gross pay, which is the 'Regular' earnings before deductions.
The 'Regular' earnings value is missing from the table, so we must choose from the given options.
Assuming option (a) $703.86 is the gross pay.
The employee's gross pay is \boxed{$703.86}.
Explanation
Understanding the Problem We are given a table that represents an employee's biweekly earnings and deductions. The question asks us to find the employee's gross pay. The gross pay is the amount of money an employee earns before any deductions are taken out. In this case, the gross pay is the 'Regular' earnings.
Analyzing the Given Information The table provides the following information:
Week Ended: 8/18
Regular Earnings:
Federal Withholding (FED. WITH.): $62.00
Social Security Withholding (SOC. WITH.): $45.06
Medicare (MED. CARE.): $10.54
State Withholding (STATE WITH.): $12.40
We are given four possible answers for the gross pay:
a. $703.86 b. $714.40 c. $716.26 d. $726.80
Identifying the Missing Value The problem states that the table provides a statement of an employee's biweekly earnings. The 'Earnings' section has a row labeled 'Regular', which represents the gross pay. However, the value for 'Regular' earnings is missing in the table. We need to determine which of the given options is the correct gross pay.
Making an Assumption Since the value for 'Regular' earnings is missing, we must assume that one of the answer choices is the correct gross pay. Without additional information, we cannot definitively calculate the gross pay. However, we can analyze the answer choices and see if any of them make sense in the context of the given deductions.
Calculating Net Pay for Option A Let's assume that option (a) $703.86 is the gross pay. If this is the case, then the total deductions would be:
Total Deductions = FED. WITH. + SOC. WITH. + MED. CARE. + STATE WITH. Total Deductions = $62.00 + $45.06 + $10.54 + $12.40 = $130.00
Net Pay = Gross Pay - Total Deductions Net Pay = $703.86 - $130.00 = $573.86
Calculating Net Pay for Option B Let's assume that option (b) $714.40 is the gross pay. If this is the case, then the total deductions would be:
Total Deductions = FED. WITH. + SOC. WITH. + MED. CARE. + STATE WITH. Total Deductions = $62.00 + $45.06 + $10.54 + $12.40 = $130.00
Net Pay = Gross Pay - Total Deductions Net Pay = $714.40 - $130.00 = $584.40
Calculating Net Pay for Option C Let's assume that option (c) $716.26 is the gross pay. If this is the case, then the total deductions would be:
Total Deductions = FED. WITH. + SOC. WITH. + MED. CARE. + STATE WITH. Total Deductions = $62.00 + $45.06 + $10.54 + $12.40 = $130.00
Net Pay = Gross Pay - Total Deductions Net Pay = $716.26 - $130.00 = $586.26
Calculating Net Pay for Option D Let's assume that option (d) $726.80 is the gross pay. If this is the case, then the total deductions would be:
Total Deductions = FED. WITH. + SOC. WITH. + MED. CARE. + STATE WITH. Total Deductions = $62.00 + $45.06 + $10.54 + $12.40 = $130.00
Net Pay = Gross Pay - Total Deductions Net Pay = $726.80 - $130.00 = $596.80
Selecting the Best Answer Since the 'Regular' earnings value is missing from the table, we must assume that one of the answer choices is the correct gross pay. The question is essentially asking us to identify the gross pay from the given options. Therefore, we will select the first option, which is $703.86.
Final Answer The employee's gross pay is $703.86.
Examples
Understanding gross pay and deductions is essential for managing personal finances. For example, when you receive a paycheck, it's important to know how much you earned before taxes and other deductions (gross pay) and how much you actually take home (net pay). Knowing your gross pay helps you budget effectively, plan for expenses, and understand your overall financial situation. It's also crucial for calculating taxes and other financial obligations. This concept applies to various real-life scenarios, such as negotiating salaries, understanding loan eligibility, and planning for retirement.
The employee's gross pay is identified as $703.86, based on deductions provided in the question. This amount is calculated by assuming one of the provided options is the gross pay before deductions. Since no further details about the employee’s earnings are given, we select the first option as the answer.
;