Question 163856

Let x be the total amount of the estate.

Then {{{(1/2)*x }}}= son's share

{{{(1/3)*x}}} = granddaughter's share

So {{{(1/2)*x + (1/3)*x + 6000 = x}}} or the total estate.

Solving this equation requires finding a common denominator of 6 for the fractions.

{{{ (3/6)*x + (2/6)*x + 6000 = x}}}
combining like terms we get
{{{(5/6)*x + 6000 = x}}}
Subtracting the (5/6)*x from both sides gives us 
{{{ 6000 = (1/6)* x}}}

Multiplying both sides by 6 gives us 

{{{36000 = x}}}
Therefore the entire estate was $36000.