Question

Darren Williams receives a monthly income of $600 from a pension and some from Social Security. His wife, Laura, also receives a monthly income from Social Security, but only 70 percent of Darren's amount. If their monthly income is $1,800 per month, how much is Darren's monthly Social Security benefit?

Answer 1

Darren's monthly Social Security benefit is $705.90

Explanation:

Given: Darren Williams receives a monthly income of $600 from a pension and some from Social Security.

His wife,Laura receives a montly income which is 70% of Darren's Social Security amount.

Their total monthly income = $1800.

Let x be Darren's monthly income from Social Security.

Laura's montly income = 70% of x.

= 0.7d

So, total monthly income is $600 + x + 0.7x = 1800

Simplify the like terms, we get

1.7x + 600 = 1800

Subtract 600 from both sides, we get

1.7x + 600 - 600 = 1800 - 600

1.7x = 1200

Dividing both sides by 1.7, we get

x = 1200 ÷ 1.7

x = $705.90

Therefore, Darren's monthly Social Security benefit is $705.90

Answer 2

$705.88

Explanation:

Let d represent Darren's monthly income from Social Security. Then 0.7d is the amount his wife receives. Their total monthly income is ...

600 + d + 0.7d = 1800

1.7d = 1200 . . . . . . . . . . . subtract 600, collect terms

d = 1200/1.7 = 705.88

Darren's monthly Social Security benefit is $705.88.