Question

Billy Goats invested some money in stocks and bonds. The total amount he invested was 165,000. If he invested 4.5 times as much in stocks as he did in bonds, what was his total investment in stocks?

Answer 1

@satellite73

Answer 2

In problems of this type, start by letting a variable equal the simpler unknown.
Let x = amount he invested in bonds.
He invested 4.5 times as much in stocks than in bonds, so if x = amount invested in bonds, how would you express the amount he invested in stocks using x?
Once you express that, add the two amounts and set equal to 165,000.
Then solve for x.

Answer 3

So like. 4.5*x=165,000?

Answer 4

@mathmate

Answer 5

@Photon336

Answer 6

x=amount in bonds
4.5x = amount in stocks.
Total = 165000
Solve for x, and hence 4.5x

Answer 7

So 165,000/4.5

Answer 8

Which is 36,666.6 right?

Answer 9

I agree with @mathstudent55

\[4.5x = (stocks) \]
\[x = bonds \]

\[(4.5x+x) = 165,000\]

Answer 10

So 5.5x=165,000

Answer 11

And then x=30,000

Answer 12

So he spent 30,000 in bonds. And then we subtract that from 165,000?

Answer 13

So he spent 135,000 in stocks?

Answer 14

Yes, that is correct.
You could check using the original data:
135000+30000=165000, good
135000/30000=4.5, exactly the given ration.
Final check is to make sure you have attributed the proper amount for stocks and for bonds, and I will leave that to you. You will need to reread the question to do this check.