Question

Below are equations representing the median estimated net earnings for college costs and high school salaries for A high school graduate: y = 38,698x + 154,792 A math/statistics college graduate: y = 92,400x -112,492 A nutrition college graduate: y = 55,300x -112,492 2. Estimate how many years it will take for each major to pass the net earnings of the high school graduate. Show your work using a table of values or a graph. By retirement age (40 years of work), what will be the math/statistics major’s predicted net earnings? What will be the nutrition major’s predicted net earnings? Your friend is passionate about nutrition and dreams of becoming a nutritionist for a professional sports team. Even though they don’t make as much, why might it make sense for your friend to major in nutrition rather than math/statistics?

Answer 1

After setting the equations for each college degree equal to the high school graduate earnings equation and solving for x, we determine the number of years to surpass high school earnings. For Net earnings at retirement after 40 years, we calculate the earnings by multiplying the annual earnings by 40 and subtracting initial costs. Passion for a field like nutrition can outweigh the financial benefits of a higher-earning major, providing personal fulfillment and job satisfaction.

Step-by-step explanation:

To estimate the years it will take for each major to surpass the net earnings of a high school graduate, we need to equalize the equations of the high school graduate and each college graduate and solve for x, which represents the number of years. For a math/statistics major (y = 92,400x - 112,492) and a nutrition major (y = 55,300x - 112,492), we set each equation equal to the high school graduate's equation (y = 38,698x + 154,792) and solve:

• Math/Statistics: 92,400x - 112,492 = 38,698x + 154,792
• Nutrition: 55,300x - 112,492 = 38,698x + 154,792

By subtracting the respective sides and solving for x, we find the crossover point in years.

Using the given formula, we can predict the net earnings at retirement (40 years of work) for a math/statistics major and a nutrition major:

• Math/Statistics: 92,400 × 40 - 112,492
• Nutrition: 55,300 × 40 - 112,492

It may make sense for your friend to major in nutrition if they are passionate about the field. Following one's passion can lead to personal fulfillment and job satisfaction that might outweigh the financial difference. Moreover, a career aligned with one's interests can lead to better work performance and opportunities for growth within the specific field.