Jane's Salary is 4 times mary's salary. together they earn 150 per week find the salary of each girl

Question

i believe this is 150=4x+y but i forgot how to solve it 

Answer 1

Kenny, that is almost correct, but you need to set up both salaries compared to the SAME variable.  In your case, you seem to have x as Jane's salary and y as Mary's.

 

Let's switch things around.  We know that x + y = 150, right?  Let's let x = Mary's salary, which is smaller, and y = Jane's salary.  How would you write Jane's salary with respect to x?  Then add the two together, solve for x, then solve for y using the first equation.

 

I hope this helps.

Answer 2

Let Jane's Salary be x;  Mary's,  y

From the first sentence,  x= 4y  --------{1}

From the second sentence, x+y=150  ------{2}

{1} → {2},  4y+y = 150, or 5y = 150

                   y=30  ------{3}

{3} → {1},  x= 4(30) = 120

 

Ans.  Jane's Salary:  120

        Mary's Salary:  30