SOLUTION: Barry spent 1/5 of his monthly salary for rent and 1/8 of his monthly salary for his utility bill. If $1188 was left, what was his monthly salary?

Algebra ->  Customizable Word Problem Solvers  -> Finance -> SOLUTION: Barry spent 1/5 of his monthly salary for rent and 1/8 of his monthly salary for his utility bill. If $1188 was left, what was his monthly salary?      Log On

Ad: Over 600 Algebra Word Problems at edhelper.com


    

Question 1157198: Barry spent 1/5 of his monthly salary for rent and 1/8 of his monthly salary for his utility bill. If $1188 was left, what was his monthly salary?
Found 2 solutions by josmiceli, MathTherapy:
Answer by josmiceli(19441) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let +x+ = his monthly salary
+x+-+1188+=+%281%2F5%29%2Ax+%2B+%281%2F8%29%2Ax+
+x+-+1188+=+%28+8%2F40+%2B+5%2F40+%29%2Ax+
Multiply both sides by +40+
+40x+-+47520+=+13x+
+27x+=+47520+
+x+=+1760+
$1,760 monthly salary
----------------------
check answer:
+x+-+1188+=+%281%2F5%29%2Ax+%2B+%281%2F8%29%2Ax+
+1760+-+1188+=+%281%2F5%29%2A1760+%2B+%281%2F8%29%2A1760+
+572+=+1760%2A%28+.2+%2B+.125+%29+
+572+=+1760%2A.325+
+572+=+572+
OK

Answer by MathTherapy(10552) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!

Barry spent 1/5 of his monthly salary for rent and 1/8 of his monthly salary for his utility bill. If $1188 was left, what was his monthly salary?
Fraction of monthly salary spent: matrix%281%2C3%2C+1%2F5+%2B+1%2F8%2C+%22=%22%2C+13%2F40%29

Fraction of monthly salary remaining: matrix%281%2C3%2C+1+-+13%2F40%2C+%22=%22%2C+27%2F40%29

With S being the monthly salary, and with 27%2F40 representing $1,188, we get the following PROPORTION: 

27S = 40(1,188) ------- Cross-multiplying

Monthly salary, or