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

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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) About Me  (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

system%28y=-49%2B2x%2Cx%2By=116%29, and the money values are in THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS PER YEAR.

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

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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(10552) About Me  (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 = highlight_green%28matrix%281%2C3%2C+%22165%2C000%22%2F3%2C+or%2C+%22%2455%2C000%22%29%29

Average salary of a Master's degree individual =