document.write( "Question 1137123: Two bond funds pay interest at rates that differ by 2%. Money invested for one year in the first fund earns $550 interest. The same amount invested in the other fund earns $660. Find the lower rate of interest. \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #754965 by Theo(13342)\"\" \"About 
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let the rate of the first bond be equal to x.
\n" ); document.write( "then the rate of the second bond will be equal to x + .02.
\n" ); document.write( "this is because a rate of 2% is equal to .02.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "since the interest on the first bond is 550, then the rate on the first bond must be the lower rate, so the rate on the first bond is x and the rate on the second bond is x + .02.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "interest = interest rate * principal.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "let i = interest and r = interest rate and p = principal and you get i = r * p.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "when i = 550 and r = x, the equation becomes 550 = x * p.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "when i = 660 and r = x + .02, the equation becomes 660 = (x + .02) * p\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "in the equation of 550 = x * p, solve for x to get x = 550 / p.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "in the equation of 660 = (x + .02) * p, replace x with 550 / p to get 660 = (550 / p + .02) * p\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "simplify this equation to get 660 = 550 / p * p + .02 * p\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "simplify further to get 660 = 550 + .02 * p.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "subtract 550 from both sides of this equation to get 110 = .02 * p\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "divide both sides of this equation by .02 to get 110 / .02 = p\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "solve for p to get p = 5500.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "this means the principal is 5500.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "your original equations are:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "550 = x * p
\n" ); document.write( "660 = (x + .02) * p\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "replace p in these equations to get:\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "550 = x * 5500
\n" ); document.write( "660 = (x + .02) * 5500\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "solve for x in the first equation to get x = 550 / 5500 = .10.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "since x is equal to .10, then x + .02 must be equal to .12.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "the first equation becomes 550 = .10 * 5500 which becomes 550 = 550.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "the second equation becomes 660 = .12 * 5500 which becomes 660 = 660.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "the soluition is confirmed to be good.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "the lower rate of interest is .1 which is equal to 10%.\r
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