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| Question 1009968:  Please help me solve this equation: An investment of $50,000 was made by a business club. The investment was split into three parts and lasted for one year. The first part of the investment earned 8% interest, the second 6%, and the third 9%. Total Interest from the investments was $3960. The interest from the first investment was 2 times the interest from the second. Find the amounts of the three parts of the investment.
 Answer by Theo(13342)
      (Show Source): 
You can put this solution on YOUR website! x = amount invested at 8%. y = amount invested at 6%.
 z = amount invested at 9%.
 
 x + y + z = 50,000
 
 .08x + .06y + .09z = 3960
 
 interest on the first investment is equal to 2 times interest on the second investment.
 
 .08x = 2 * .06y
 
 simplify to get .08x = .12y
 
 solve for x to get x = .12y/.08 = 1.5y
 
 since .08x = .12y, you can replace .08x with .12y.
 
 since x = 1.5y, you can replace x with 1.5y
 
 your two equations of x + y + z = 50,000 and .08x + .06y + .09z = 3960 become:
 
 1.5y + y + z = 50,000
 .12y + .06y + .09z = 3960
 
 combine like terms in both equations to get:
 
 2.5y + z = 50,000
 .18y + .09z = 3960
 
 you now have 2 equations with 2 unknown variables which can be solved simultaneously for a unique solution.
 
 we will eliminate the z variable from the 2 equations in the following manner.
 
 multiply both sides of the first eqution by 9 and multiply both sides of the second equation by 100.
 
 you will get:
 
 2.5y + z = 50,000 becomes 22.5y + 9z = 450,000.
 .18y + .09z = 3960 becomes 18y + 9z = 396,000.
 
 the 2 equations are now:
 
 22.5y + 9z = 450,000
 18y + 9z = 396,000
 
 subtract the second equation from the first to get:
 
 4.5y = 54,000
 
 divide both sides of this equation by 4.5 to get:
 
 y = 12,000
 
 since x = 1.5y, then x must be equal to 18,000
 
 since x + y + z = 50,000, then z must be equal to 20,000
 
 you have:
 
 x = 18,000
 y = 12,000
 z = 20,000
 
 the interest on each of these investments is:
 
 .08 * 18,000 = 1,440
 .06 * 12,000 = 720
 .09 * 20,000 = 1,800
 
 add up the investments and you get 50,000
 add up the interest and you get 3,960
 
 the interest on the first investment is 2 times the interest on the second investment because 1,440 = 2 * 720.
 
 all results are confirmed as good.
 
 your solution is:
 
 18,000 is invested at 8%.
 12,000 is invested at 6%.
 20,000 is invested at 9%.
 
 
 
 
 
 
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