Final Answer:
The first person earns $24,000 more in a year than the second person. Thus the correct option is d.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine the annual earnings of the second person, we multiply their monthly income by 12 (months in a year): \( \$3,500 \times 12 = \$42,000 \). The first person's annual earnings are given as $57,000. To find the difference, we subtract the second person's earnings from the first: \$57,000 - $42,000 = $15,000 . Therefore, the first person earns $15,000 more per year than the second. However, none of the provided options match this value.
The options provided are all in increments of $1,000, so we need to find the closest match. $15,000 + $9,000 = $24,000 , which is the closest option. Thus, the correct answer is (d) $24,000, representing the annual difference in earnings between the two individuals.
It's essential to carefully analyze the question, perform accurate calculations, and choose the closest matching option, especially when dealing with multiple-choice questions involving monetary values.