Question 970112
Total=80,000
George=x-2000 because he is getting 2,000 less than Scott.
Scott=x because we don't know how much he's getting.

"less than, greater than, stick it at the end"


SO,    Scott + George = Total

Plug in the information given:
   x+(x-2000)=80000

Combine like terms:
    2x-2000=80000

Add 2000 in order to get the variable on one side
      2x=82000

Dived by 2 to find 'x'
     x=41,000

Your answer is how much Scott is getting, so in order to find out how much George is getting we plug it back in to George: x-2000
      41000-2000=39,000

Therefore, George is getting $39,000 and Scott is getting $41,000.



*In order to check if its correct add the two and if it adds up to $80,000, then its right.
   41,000+39,000=80,000 (correct).