Algebra

Given that percent can be expressed in decimal form (example: 25% of a value y can be written as 0.25y) answer the following:

Tom uses the linear model of y = 35,000 + 0.45x to anticipate his salary from completing x amount of dollars' worth of jobs.

What is Tom's base salary? What percent commission does he earn? Would you be able to use the same equation for Tom the next year? Why or why not?