Let
x-------> the number of hours Ashley worked during the week
y------> Ashley's weekly pay
we know that
Ashley earns $8.50 per hour at her job and if she works more than 35 hours in a week she is paid 1½ times her regular wage for the overtime hours worked
so
case a) if she worked no more than 35 hours
[tex]x \leq35\ hours[/tex]
In this case the equation is equal to
[tex]y=8.50x[/tex]
case b) if she worked more than 35 hours
[tex]x>35\ hours[/tex]
in this case
[tex]\$8.5*1.5=\$12.75[/tex]
[tex]\$12.75-\$8.50=\$4.25[/tex]
the equation is equal to
[tex]y=(x-35)*4.25+8.50*x[/tex]
therefore
the answer part a) is
[tex]y=8.50x[/tex]