Question

A married couple together earns $75,000. The husband earns $15,000 more than five times what his wife earns. What does the wife earn? Call the amount that the husband earns h and the amount the wife earns w.

Which of the following equations correctly represents the situation described?

A) h + (2h - 16,000) = $110,000
B) h + 5w + $15,000 = $75,000
C) 5h - $15,000 = w
D) h - 5w = $15,000

Answer 1

The correct equation to represent the earnings of a married couple, where the husband earns $15,000 more than five times the wife's earnings, and combined they earn $75,000, is h + 5w + $15,000 = $75,000.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question involves setting up an equation to represent the earnings of a married couple where the husband earns $15,000 more than five times what his wife earns, and together they earn $75,000. We define the husband's earnings as h and the wife's earnings as w. The correct equation to represent this situation is given by option B) h + 5w + $15,000 = $75,000. This equation takes into account that the husband's earning is $15,000 more than five times the wife's earnings, and their combined earnings equal $75,000.

To find the wife's earnings, we need to set up and solve the equation. Since h = 5w + $15,000, we substitute h in the equation that represents their combined earnings: (5w + $15,000) + w = $75,000. Simplifying this equation yields w, which is the wife's earnings.