Question 707887
Let x = amount Americans spent on weddings in 2001



x + 50% of x = 69 billion


x + 0.5x = 6.9 * 10^10


1.5x = 6.9 * 10^10


x = (6.9 * 10^10)/(1.5)


x = (6.9 * 10^10)/(1.5 * 10^0)


x = (6.9/1.5) * (10^10/10^0)


x = 4.6 * 10^(10-0)


x = 4.6 * 10^10


x = 46 billion


So Americans spent <font color="red">46 billion dollars</font> on weddings in 2001


Notice how 50% of 46 billion is 46*0.5 = 23 billion


Add this to 46 billion and you get 69 billion


So this verifies the answer.