SOLUTION: hello, my math problem is as follows: The average yearly salary of an American whose final degree is a master's is $49 thousand less than twice that of an American whose final deg

Question 1049111: hello, my math problem is as follows:
The average yearly salary of an American whose final degree is a master's is $49 thousand less than twice that of an American whose final degree is a bachelor's. Combined, two people with each of these educational attainments earn $116 thousand. Find the average yearly salary of Americans with each of these final degrees.
Ive been doing : 49(x-2)=116 but get 4.36 which is wrong. then I did x+(x-2)=(49+x)=116 and I got 23. then I did (49-x) (x-2)=116 i got 2.27 I just cant seem to get the right answer. I think its between 5 or 6 looking at the graph. but dont know how to solve it. The thing is when it says "less than twice" is whats confusing me. please help Im getting a headache
Found 2 solutions by josgarithmetic, MathTherapy:
Answer by josgarithmetic(39620) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
This is a fairly clear, although wordy, two-variable linear systems application problem. Literal symbolizing is all you need to do.

y, Salary for Master's Degree person
x, Salary for Bachelor's Degree person

, and the money values are in THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS PER YEAR.

Review the problem description and the analysis just given until you understand it.

--
Do you understand? If you do, then solving the system will be uncomplicated. Simple substitution will work; or adjust both equations into standard form (one of them already being in such form) and you could use Elimination Method if you are familiar.
Answer by MathTherapy(10553) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!

hello, my math problem is as follows:
The average yearly salary of an American whose final degree is a master's is $49 thousand less than twice that of an American whose final degree is a bachelor's. Combined, two people with each of these educational attainments earn $116 thousand. Find the average yearly salary of Americans with each of these final degrees.
Ive been doing : 49(x-2)=116 but get 4.36 which is wrong. then I did x+(x-2)=(49+x)=116 and I got 23. then I did (49-x) (x-2)=116 i got 2.27 I just cant seem to get the right answer. I think its between 5 or 6 looking at the graph. but dont know how to solve it. The thing is when it says "less than twice" is whats confusing me. please help Im getting a headache

You are correct in using ONLY 1 variable, but obviously incorrect in your attempt to create the equation. There is NO NEED for 2.
Let the average salary of a Bachelor's degree individual be B
Then the average salary of a Master's degree individual = 2B - 49,000
We then get: B + 2B - 49,000 = 116,000
3B = 116,000 + 49,000
3B = 165,000
B, or average salary of a Bachelor's degree individual =
Average salary of a Master's degree individual =
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