If you are paid \( \$ 232.94 \) for \( 25 \frac{1}{2} \) hours of work, what amount should you be paid for 34 hours of work at this same rate of pay? You should be paid \( \$ \square \) for 34 hours of work. (Round to the nearest cent as needed.)

To find out how much you should be paid for 34 hours of work, first calculate your hourly rate. Divide your total earnings by the total hours worked: \[ \text{Hourly Rate} = \frac{232.94}{25.5} \approx 9.13 \] Then, multiply this hourly rate by 34 hours: \[ \text{Payment for 34 hours} = 9.13 \times 34 \approx 310.42 \] You should be paid \( \$ 310.42 \) for 34 hours of work. Now let's make this math a bit more exciting! Did you know that the concept of hourly wages can be traced back to labor movements in the 19th century? The battle for a fair wage and reasonable working hours paved the way for the modern employment standards we often take for granted today! Also, when calculating payments, a common mistake is forgetting to convert mixed numbers to improper fractions! When you worked for \( 25 \frac{1}{2} \) hours, ensuring you handle that conversion correctly is crucial to accurately determining your hourly rate. So remember: simplify before you calculate!