Question

It is estimated that the total time Americans will spend on taxes this year is 7.8 billion hours! According to the White House budget office, tax work accounts for approximately 80% of the paperwork burden of the federal government. If 7.8 billion hours is 80% of the total time spent on federal government paperwork, how many hours are equivalent to 50% of the total time spent on federal government paperwork?

Answer 1

4.875 billion hours

Explanation:

-Let X be the total time spent on taxes and 7.8 billion (80%) is time on paper work.

#We equate and cross multiply to get the total time on taxes:

`0.8=7.8\\1=X\\\\\therefore X=(1* 7.8)/(0.8)\\\\\\=9.75`

-let y be the 50% amount of time spent. we equate to find it in actual hours:

`1=9.75\\0.5=y\\\\y=(9.75* 0.5)/(1)\\\\=4.875`

Hence, 50% of the time is equivalent to 4.875 billion hours