Algebra 1 Word Problem- Read Description!

Mona Yahuso earns three times as much as an actuary as she does as a writer. Her total income is $40,000 more than that of her brother. He earns half as much as Mona does as an actuary. What is Mona's salary as an actuary

Let x = Salary of Mona Yahuso as a writer

then

3x = Salary of Mona Yahuso as an actuary

Mona does both so total income is 4x

4x - 40000 = earnings of her brother = ½ (3x)

so

4x - 40000 = 1.5 x

subtract 1.5x from both sides

2.5x - 40000 = 0

so

2.5x = 40,000

so
.........40,000
x = ▬▬▬▬ = 16,000 earnings as writer
............2.5

Mona's Salary as actuary is 3x so it is

$48,000

a = actuary
b = brother
w = writer

a = 3w
a + w = b + 40,000
b = 0.5a

b = 0.5a means that a = 2b

2b = 3w
b = 1.5w

a + w = 1.5w + 40,000
a = 0.5w + 40,000

a = 3w

So that means 3w = 0.5w + 40,000

2.5w = 40,000
w = 16,000

a = 3(16,000)

She makes $48,000 as an actuary.

I hope this information was very helpful.