Question

Use addition or substitution to solve this problem.
Mario earned three times as much money last year as his wife Elena. The total amount that the two earned was $11,000. How much money did Mario earn?

Answer 1

let m = the amount mario earns
let e = the amount elena earns

mario earns 3 times as much as elena
3e=m

together they earn 11,000
e+m=11,000

just a substitution and solve

Answer 2

you lost me..@completeidiot

Answer 3

m and e are variables that we define

Answer 4

would it be easier if they were x and y instead of e and m?

Answer 5

yeah maybe

Answer 6

ok so say we have a random variable that we'll call x
now this x represents the total amount of money mario earns

now lets say y represents the total amount of money elena earns

so mario (x) earns 3 times as much as elena(y)

this can be written as the equation
3y=x
because 3 times the amount elena(y) earns is equal to the amount mario(x) earns

now together elena(y) and mario(x) earn 11,000 in total
this can be shown as x+y=11,000

Answer 7

ok thank you