In this discussion, you will use linear functions to make sense of unfair and unequal pay. Historically, women and other marginalized groups have been compensated less than their counterparts for the same work and, at times, for more work. For example, in Georgia, Black women earn an average of 63 cents for every dollar earned by their white male counterparts1. In addition to this gap, some Georgia hourly workers are legally compensated at different minimum wage rates ($5.15 vs. $7.25) based on the Fair Labor Standards Act2.
Case Studies. Use the objectives on page 1 to inform your responses to the case studies:
1) Write about the history of unfair wages and unequal pay in Georgia or a state that you are from. Summarize your findings in 100 words or less and cite your sources. 
2) Two friends are offered similar jobs at partner companies in Atlanta. One friend, a woman, is offered $5.15/hour by the local company at the minimum wage set in Georgia; the other friend, a male, is offered $7.25/hour by the national company at the federal minimum wage.
- What is wrong in this scenario?
- Create a table and calculate the gap in wages earned, w(h) (dollars), by hours, h, when h = 8 hours (1 day), 40 hours (1 week), and 80 hours (1 pay period), and
- write equations for each line: red dot = (8 hours,$41.20) and blue dot = (8 hours,$58.00)
- Summarize your findings in paragraph form.
3) When expenses are taken into account, the linear model will shift. For example, prior to working any hours, the friend who makes $5.15/hr. has expenses totaling $1900/month (this would be the y-intercept).
- How many hours will she have to work to cover her expenses?
- If her male friend has expenses totaling $1950/month, how many hours will he have to work to cover his expenses?
- Summarize your findings in paragraph form.
In this discussion, you will use linear functions to make sense of unfair and unequal pay. Historically, women and other marginalized groups have been compensated less than their counterparts for the same work and, at times, for more work. For example, in Georgia, Black women earn an average of 63 cents for every dollar earned by their white male counterparts1. In addition to this gap, some Georgia hourly workers are legally compensated at different minimum wage rates ($5.15 vs. $7.25) based on the Fair Labor Standards Act2.
Case Studies. Use the objectives on page 1 to inform your responses to the case studies:
1) Write about the history of unfair wages and unequal pay in Georgia or a state that you are from. Summarize your findings in 100 words or less and cite your sources.
2) Two friends are offered similar jobs at partner companies in Atlanta. One friend, a woman, is offered $5.15/hour by the local company at the minimum wage set in Georgia; the other friend, a male, is offered $7.25/hour by the national company at the federal minimum wage.
- What is wrong in this scenario?
- Create a table and calculate the gap in wages earned, w(h) (dollars), by hours, h, when h = 8 hours (1 day), 40 hours (1 week), and 80 hours (1 pay period), and
- write equations for each line: red dot = (8 hours,$41.20) and blue dot = (8 hours,$58.00)
- Summarize your findings in paragraph form.
3) When expenses are taken into account, the linear model will shift. For example, prior to working any hours, the friend who makes $5.15/hr. has expenses totaling $1900/month (this would be the y-intercept).
- How many hours will she have to work to cover her expenses?
- If her male friend has expenses totaling $1950/month, how many hours will he have to work to cover his expenses?
- Summarize your findings in paragraph form.
