This one question always gets me stuck!

Question

Suppose the average yearly salary of an individual whose final degree is a masters is $45 thousand less than twice that of an individual whose final degree is a bachelors. Combined, two people with each of these educational attainments earn $111 thousand. Find the average yearly salary of an individual with each of these final degrees.

Answer 1

m= masters degree salary and b=bachelors degree salary.

 

m = 2b - 45000

m + b = 111000

 

Substitute to get

2b - 45000 + b = 111000

3b                      =  156000

b                        = 52000

 

So m = 59000

 

Check to see if these numbers work

59000 = 2*52000 - 45000     true

59000 + 52000 = 111000      true

 

So we've got the answer.