Final answer:
Shareholders' equity at the end of the year was $40,000.
Step-by-step explanation:
Shareholders' equity at the end of the year can be calculated by subtracting total liabilities from total assets. We know that total assets at the end of the year were $215,000. To find total liabilities, we need to subtract total shareholders' equity at the beginning of the year from total assets at the end of the year. Given that shareholders' equity at the beginning of the year was $40,000, the calculation would be:
Total liabilities = Total assets - Shareholders' equity
Total liabilities = $215,000 - $40,000 = $175,000
Finally, to find shareholders' equity at the end of the year, we can subtract total liabilities from total assets:
Shareholders' equity at the end of the year = Total assets - Total liabilities
Shareholders' equity at the end of the year = $215,000 - $175,000 = $40,000
Therefore, shareholders' equity at the end of the year was $40,000.