Question

The Smiths spend 7% of their budget on entertainment. Their total budget this year is $1,000 more than

last year, and this year they plan to spend $3,150 on entertainment. What was their total budget last year?

Their total budget last year was

Answer 1

Their total budget last year = $44,000

Explanation:

Let last year's budget be x

let total budget this year be y

we are given the following information

y = 1000 + x - - - (1) (Their total budget this year is $1,000 more than last year)

7% of y = $3,150

7/100 × y = 3,150

0.07y = 3,150

y = 3,150 ÷ 0.07 = $45,000

Therefore, budget this year = $45,000

from equation 1

y = 1000 + x - - - (1)

∴ x = y - 1000

x = 45,000 - 1000 = $44,000

Therefore their total budget last year = $44,000