Answer: Her earnings will decrease by $2.
Step-by-step explanation:
Under the original rates, Jodie charges a base fee of $6 and earns $4 per hour. For a 3-hour job, her earnings would be $6 (base fee) + $4 (hourly fee) x 3 (hours) = $18.
Under the new rates with a $2 decrease in the base fee, Jodie's base fee becomes $6 - $2 = $4. Her earnings per hour remain the same at $4. For a 3-hour job, her earnings would be $4 (new base fee) + $4 (hourly fee) x 3 (hours) = $16.
The difference in earnings between the two scenarios is $18 - $16 = $2. Therefore, Jodie's earnings will decrease by $2 when she decreases her base fee by $2 for a 3-hour babysitting job.