P and Q are the only two applicants qualified for a short-term research project that pays 540 dollars in total. Candidate P has more experience and, if hired, would be paid 50 percent more per hour than candidate Q would be paid. Candidate Q, if hired, would require 10 hours more than candidate P to do the job. Candidate P’s hourly wage is how many dollars greater than candidate Q’s hourly wage?  Pick.
A) $9  B) $15  C) $18  D) $21  E) $27
Let Q's hourly wage be x, then P's hourly wage is 1.5x   Let T be the number of hours that Q needs, then P needs T-10 hours to do the job.   Since they both are paid an equal total amount of $540:   x*T=1.5x*(T-10)   T = 30 hours and Q's hourly wage is 540/30= 
<gadget id="calculator">540/30</gadget>
<output>18</output>
$18   P's hourly wage is 540/(T-10)= $27 which is $9 per hour more.   The answer is $9.
<result>A</result>
P and Q are the only two applicants qualified for a short-term research project that pays 540 dollars in total. Candidate P has more experience and, if hired, would be paid 50 percent more per hour than candidate Q would be paid. Candidate Q, if hired, would require 10 hours more than candidate P to do the job. Candidate P’s hourly wage is how many dollars greater than candidate Q’s hourly wage?