Question 1087571


let x = the average annual salary of the high school graduate that year.


the average annual salary of the college graduate was 85% more than that in the same year.


therefore, x + .85 * x = 37,000


factor out the x to get (1 + .85) * x = 37,000


combine like terms to get 1.85 * x = 37,000


divide both sides of this equation by 1.85 to get x = 37000 / 1.85 = 20,000.


the high school graduate earned 20,000.


85% of this is equal to 20,000 * .85 = 17,000


the college graduate earned 17,000 more than 20,000 which is equal to 37,000.


your solution is that the average annual salary of a high school graduate was 20,000 that year.