The profit for a company in February was 9% lower than it was in January. The total profit for the two months was $125,000. Find the profit for each month

Question

 The profit for a company in February was 9% lower than it was in January. The total profit for the two months was $125,000. Find the profit for each month. 

 

January =?

February =?

Answer 1

Let's say that x is the profit in January and y is the profit for February. Then let's describe the total profit over the two months:

x+y=125000

 

We know that profit was 9% lower in February so we can describe in one of two ways:

y/x=.09 or

y=.91x

 

The second is easier to substitute into the first equation.

 

So now we have x+.91x=125000

1.91x=125000

x=65445.03 which makes y 59554.97.

 

Some quick checking here: y should be 9% lower than x. So 59554.97/65445.03=.91. Check!

 

Hope that helps!