Joe told Mickey he got an hourly raise at work and his new rate will be $10.25 per hour. Mickey wants to know what Joe's hourly rate was before his raise. If r represents the amount of the raise, which expression represents Joe's hourly rate before his raise?

Joe got an hourly raise at work and his new rate will be $10.25 per hour.

If r represents the amount of the raise, then the following equation can be written:

X=10.25-r

where X is Joe’s hourly rate was before his raise.

Joe was paid (10.25-r) USD per hour before he got a raise.