Answer:
James earns $39,410 a year.
Lin earns $42,910 a year.
Explanation:
You can answer this by setting up a system of equations.
Let's say we have j, for James, and l, for Lin.
Lin earns $3,500 more than James per year. Let's put that into an equation.
j+3500= l
And, together, they earn $82,320. Let's put that into an equation too.
j+l= 82320
We can take what we got from our first equation and plug that into the second one.
j+(j+3500)= 82320
2j+3500= 82320
2j= 78820
j= 39410
Now we know that James earns $39,410 a year. All we have to do is add $3,500.
39410+3500= 42910
We'll double check by adding Lin's and James' incomes together.
42910+39410=82320
Therefore...
James earns $39,410 a year.
Lin earns $42,910 a year.