Hi, there-- THE PROBLEM: We invested $10,000 in 2 bank accounts. One account earns 14% per year the other earns 8% per year. How much did we invest into each account if after the first year, the combined interest from the 2 accounts is $1238? A SOLUTION: Define Variables: Let x be the amount you originally invested in the first account. Let y be the amount you originally invested in the second account. Write Expressions and Equations: Since you invested a total of $10,00 in two accounts. An equation that represents this is x + y = 10000 One account (say the first one) earns 14% per year. Recall that the decimal form of 14% is 0.14. An expression for the amount of interest you earn after the first year in this account is 0.14x. The other account earns 8% per year. The decimal representation of 8% is 0.08. The amount of interest you earn after one year in this account is 0.08y. The combine interest from both account after one year is $1238. An equation representing the total interest earned is 0.14x + 0.08y = 1238 Now we have a system of two equations with two variables. We can solve for x and y. Rewrite the first equation in "y=" form. x + y = 10000 y = 10000 - x Substitute 10000-x for y in the second equation. 0.14x + 0.08y = 1238 0.14x + 0.08(10000 - x) = 1238 Solve this equation for x. Use the Distributive Property to clear parentheses. 0.14x + 800 - 0.08x = 1238 Combine like terms (0.14x-0.08x is 0.06x). 0.06x + 800 = 1238 Subtract 800 to both sides to isolate x on the left. 0.06x = 1238 - 800 0.06x = 438 Divide both sides of the equation by 0.06. x = 438/0.06 x = 7300 In the context of this problem, x=7300 means that you invested $7300 in the first account. Since you invested a total of $10000, you invested 10000-7300=$2700 in the second account. Check your work by verifying that these amounts will yield the correct amount of interest. Substitute 7300 for x and 2700 for y in the interest equation. 0.14x + 0.08y = 1238 0.14(7300) + 0.08(2700) = 1238 1022 + 216 = 1238 1238 = 1238 Check! Hope this helps! Feel free to email if you have any questions about the solution. Good luck with your math, Mrs. F math.in.the.vortex@gmail.com