Final answer:
If profits are divided equally, each partner receives 800. However, if divided in proportion to investment, X receives 1080, which is 280 more than an equal share. Thus, X receives 280 less with an equal split compared to a proportional division.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question is about dividing profits in a partnership based on the initial investment each partner made. In this case, X invested 4500, Y invested 3500, and Z invested 2000. If the total profit is 2400 and is divided equally, each partner gets 800 (2400/3). However, if the profits were divided in proportion to the amounts invested, we would first calculate the total investment which is 4500 + 3500 + 2000 = 10000. The proportion for X would then be (4500/10000)*2400 = 1080. If we compare this with the equal division, X receives 1080 - 800 = 280 more with proportional division. Therefore, X would receive 280 less than if the profits were divided in proportion to the amount invested.