Its a pre-calculus problem, someone help, i need to show work too. haha?

Each register nurse at blue hills memorial hospital is first given a 5% cost-of-living raise and then a $3000 merit raise. Write a function that transforms each salary x into a new salary N(x). Does the order in which these raises are given make any difference? Explain.

N(x) = 1.05x + 3000.

Not sure what you mean by order, or show your work. Solution is by inspection.

And Meg is a moron.

N(x) = x + x * 5/100 + 3000

if the order is changed, then

N(x) will be (x+3000) + (x+3000)*5/100

N(x) = 1.05*x + 3000

The order in which you do it does matter, if you added first, then gave the percentage raise, the equation would be:

N(x) = 1.05*(x + 3000)
N(x) = 1.05*x + 3150

The two equations are different.

The order is significant. The function is N(x) = (x + 0.05x) + 3000. Note that the parentheses aren't needed here, but if the raises were awarded in the other order, the function would be N(x) = 1.05(x + 3000), and here the parentheses make a difference.

let x=original salary
N=new salary

N = x+0.05x (first raise)
N = 1.05x
N = 1.05x + 3000 (second raise)

The order matters. If the second raise were given first:
N = x + 3000 (reversed first raise)
N = (x + 3000) + (x+3000)0.05 (reversed second raise)
N = 1.05x + 3150