Gwen Koen's Salary Scale: Calculate Gwen's monthly salary in her first year, her annual salary in her third year, and her monthly increase in her sixth year.

Here are the solutions to the questions:

Gwen Koen's Salary Scale

1. Calculate Gwen's monthly salary in her first year of employment.

Step 1: Identify the annual salary for the first year.
Gwen's starting annual salary is R156,000.

Step 2: Calculate the monthly salary.

$$\text{Monthly Salary} = \frac{\text{Annual Salary}}{12} = \frac{R156,000}{12} = R13,000$$

Gwen's monthly salary in her first year is $\boxed{\text{R13,000}}$.

2. What will her annual salary be in her third year of employment?

Step 1: Calculate the annual salary for each year.

• Year 1: $R156,000$
• Year 2: $R156,000 + R16,500 = R172,500$
• Year 3: $R172,500 + R16,500 = R189,000$ The increment of R16,500 applies as her salary is still below R205,500. Her annual salary in her third year will be $\boxed{\text{R189,000}}$.

3. What will her monthly increase be in her sixth year of employment?

Step 1: Determine the annual salary progression to find the increment applicable in the sixth year.

• Year 1: $R156,000$ (Increment $R16,500$)
• Year 2: $R172,500$ (Increment $R16,500$)
• Year 3: $R189,000$ (Increment $R16,500$)
• Year 4: $R205,500$ (Reached the first threshold, next increment is $R18,900$)
• Year 5: $R205,500 + R18,900 = R224,400$ (Increment $R18,900$)
• Year 6: $R224,400 + R18,900 = R243,300$ (Increment $R18,900$)

Step 2: Calculate the monthly increase based on the annual increment for the sixth year.
The annual increase in her sixth year is R18,900.

$$\text{Monthly Increase} = \frac{\text{Annual Increase}}{12} = \frac{R18,900}{12} = R1,575$$

Her monthly increase in her sixth year will be $\boxed{\text{R1,575}}$.

4. How many years would she work before she reaches R243,300?

Step 1: Refer to the salary progression calculated in question 3.

• Year 1: R156,000
• Year 2: R172,500
• Year 3: R189,000
• Year 4: R205,500
• Year 5: R224,400
• Year 6: R243,300 She reaches R243,300 in her $\boxed{\text{6th year}}$ of employment.

Neil Brydon's Salary Advice: Calculations

Information:

• Annual Basic Salary: R198,600
• Monthly Basic Salary: $\frac{R198,600}{12} = R16,550$
• Production Bonus (November): 40% of basic salary $= 0.40 \times R16,550 = R6,620$