Melinda earns $150 less than Barbara. The combined income of those two people is $398 per week. How much per week does each person earn?

Question

Please Help!!!!!!

 

Answer 1

x=Melinda $$ per week

y= Barbara $$ per week

 

x + y = 398

x= y - 150

 

Substitution:

 

(y-150) + y=398

 

2y-150=398

 

2y=548

 

y=274

 

x=y-150

 

x=274-150

 

x=124

 

 

 

Melinda earns $124 per week

Barbara earns $274 per week

Answer 2

This is going to be a system of equations. One variable will be Melinda's weekly earnings and one variable will be Barbara's weekly earnings. 

 

First, we need to think about an equation that will represent the first sentence. Melinda is earning $150 less than Barbara.  So would that be m = 150 + b or m + 150 = b?  Remember, an equal sign means what's on the right is the same as what's on the left. Since Melinda earns LESS, she will need the +150 on her side of the equation so she's equal to Barbara. 

 

Then, we need to think about an equation that represents the second sentence. Combined is another word for what operation? 

 

Now, since we have two equations and two variables, we can solve by substitution. Our first equation m + 150 = b is already solved for b, so we can substitute that in for the b in our second equation, which is m + b = 398. 

 

It will look like this: m + (m + 150) = 398.  Now, combine like terms by adding the m + m and subtracting 150 from both sides.  When we get what m equals, we can plug that in for the m in either equation, m + 150 = b or m + b = 398 and find b.