A certain bus driver is paid a regular rate of $18 per hour for any number of hours that does not exceed 40 hours per week. For any overtime hours worked in excess of 40 hours per week, the bus driver is paid a rate that is 75% higher than his regular rate. If last week the bus driver earned $976 in total compensation, how many total hours did he work that week?
Pick:
A) 36 B) 40 C) 44 D) 48 E) 52

Rationale: "for 40 hrs = 40 * 18 = 720 excess = 976 - 720 = 252 for extra hours = . 75 ( 18 ) = 13.5 + 18 = 31.5 number of extra hrs = 252 / 31.5 = 8 total hrs = 40 + 8 = 48 answer d 48"
Answer: D