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Question 1152349:  A woman has a total of $12,000 to invest. She invests part of the money in an account that pays 6% per year and the rest in an account that pays 8% per year. If the interest earned in the first year is $820, how much did she invest in each account?
 
She invested $     at 6% and $    at 8%. 
 Found 2 solutions by  ankor@dixie-net.com, greenestamps: Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740)      (Show Source): 
You can  put this solution on YOUR website! A woman has a total of $12,000 to invest. 
 She invests part of the money in an account that pays 6% per year and the rest in an account that pays 8% per year. 
 If the interest earned in the first year is $820, how much did she invest in each account? 
: 
let a = amt invested at 8% 
the total is 12000, therefore 
(12000-a) = amt invested at 6% 
: 
.08a + .06(12000-a) = 820 
.08a + 720 - .06a = 820 
.08a - .06a = 820 - 720 
.02a = 100 
a = 100/.02 
a = $5000 invested at 8% 
then  
12000 - 5000 = $7000 invested at 6% 
: 
: 
: 
Check the amt of interest of each 
.08(5000) = 400 
.06(7000) = 420 
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total int: 820
 
 
 
She invested $7000 at 6% and $5000 at 8%. 
 Answer by greenestamps(13214)      (Show Source): 
You can  put this solution on YOUR website! 
  
If an algebraic solution is required, then the solution provided by the other tutor is a good presentation of the usual method for solving the problem.
  
This kind of problem -- as well as a great deal of similar types of problems -- is very common on competitive middle school or high school math contests.  Here is a quick way to solve this kind of problem with a few quick calculations -- much faster than with the equation used in the formal algebraic method.
  
(1) Find out how the actual interest of $820 compares to the interest that would have been earned if the whole amount were invested at each of the two rates: 
$12,000 at 6% --> $720 interest 
actual -- $820 interest 
$12,000 at 8% --> $960 interest
  
From $720 to $960 is a difference of $240; from $720 to $820 is a difference of $100.  So the actual interest is "100/240 = 5/12 of the way" from $720 to $960.
  
Since the actual interest if 5/12 of the way from the amount it would have been if all the money had been invested at 6% to the amount it would have been if it had all been invested at 8%, that means 5/12 of the total was invested at 8%.
  
ANSWER: 5/12 of the $12,000, or $5000, at 8%; the other $7000 at 6%.
  
CHECK: .08(5000)+.06(7000) = 400+420 =820
  
All the words of explanation might make this seem like a lengthy process; but it is not.  Being good with mental arithmetic, I solve this kind of problem typically in 7-8 seconds once I have read the given information.
  
Without all the words, here are the needed calculations: 
.06(12000) = 720; .08(12000) = 960 
960-720 = 240; 820-720 = 100; 100/240 = 5/12 
(5/12)*12000 = 5000
  
 
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