A survey of employers found that during 1993 employment costs rose 3.5 percent, where employment costs consist of salary costs and fringe-benefit costs. If salary costs rose 3 percent and fringe-benefit costs rose 8.5 percent during 1993, then fringe-benefit costs represented what percent of employment costs at the beginning of 1993 ?  Answers:  A) 16.5%  B) 9%  C) 35%  D) 55%  E) 65%
The amount by which employment costs rose is equal to 0.035(salary costs + fringe benefit costs);   On the other hand the amount by which employment costs rose is equal to 0.03*salary costs + 0.085*fringe benefit costs;   So, 35(S+F) = 30S+85F --&gt; S = 10F --&gt; F/S = 1/10 --&gt; F/(S+F) = 1/(1+10) = 1/11 = 0.09.   Answer: 9%.
<result>B</result>
A survey of employers found that during 1993 employment costs rose 3.5 percent, where employment costs consist of salary costs and fringe-benefit costs. If salary costs rose 3 percent and fringe-benefit costs rose 8.5 percent during 1993, then fringe-benefit costs represented what percent of employment costs at the beginning of 1993 ?