Sandra saves 12% of her salary for retirement. This year her was $3,000 more than in the previous year, and she saved $4.20. What was her salary in the previous year?

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Answer 1 · 2018-07-21T19:32:28

First, we want to figure out what her salary was this year. We know that $$ 4.20$ $$4.20$ is $12 %$ $12%$ of her salary and we can show it with:

$12 % \cdot x = $ 4.20$ $12%*x=$4.20$ , where $x$ $x$ represents this year's salary

Solve for $x$ $x$
$.12 x = $ 4.20$ $.12x=$4.20$

$x = $ 35$ $x=$35$ , which is her salary for this year, and we just have to subtract the $$ 3, 000$ $$3,000$

With this, we know that you stated the problem incorrectly, but this method of solving can still be used with any similar problem.

Answer 2 · 2018-07-21T20:07:13

See below

Let's say that was in fact $4.20$ $4.20$ dollars, and this year her salary was $3000$ $3000$ dollars more than her last year's salary:

Let $x$ $x$ be last year's salary

Let $x + 3000$ $x+3000$ be this year's salary:

So:
$0.12 (x + 3000) = 4.20$ $0.12(x+3000)= 4.20$

$0.12 x + 360 = 4.20$ $0.12x+360= 4.20$

$0.12 x = - 355.8$ $0.12x= -355.8$

$x = - 2965$ $x=-2965$ dollars

Last year she didn't earn anything and spent 2965 dollars :)