Question

Last month Bill spent $6,000. How much did bill spend on taxes last month? (1) The total amount Bill spent on taxes was 70% of the amount he spent on groceries. (2) 40% of the total amount Bill spent last month was spent on taxes and groceries.

Answer 1

Bill spent $988 on taxes.

Explanation:

First, you have to find the total amount that Bill spent last month on taxes and groceries as the statement says that he spent 40% of the total amount on that:

$6,000*0.4=$2,400

Then, the statement indicates that the total amount Bill spent on taxes was 70% of the amount he spent on groceries.

Let's consider that:

x=taxes

y=groceries

With the information we can write the following:

x+y=2,400 (1)

x=0.7y (2)

You can replace 2 in 1:

0.7y+y=2,400

1.7y=2,400

y=2,400/1.7

y=1,412

Then, you can replace the value of y in 2:

x=0.7(1,412)

x=$988

According to this, Bill spent $988 on taxes.