Question

39. The occupations of postsecondary teachers, registered nurses,

and medical assistants are among the ten with the largest
growth from 2000 to 2012. (See the Chapter 2 opener.) The
number of postsecondary teacher jobs will grow 173 thou-
sand more than twice the number of medical assistant jobs.
The number of registered nurse jobs will grow 22 thousand
less than three times the number of medical assistant jobs.
If the total growth of these three jobs is predicted to be 1441
thousand, find the predicted growth of each job.

Answer 1

• Postsecondary teacher jobs = 431 thousand
• Medical assistant jobs = 258 thousand
• Nurse jobs = 752 thousand

Explanation:

Given

• Postsecondary teacher jobs = t
• Medical assistant jobs = m
• Nurse jobs = n

The number of postsecondary teacher jobs will grow 173 thou-

sand more than twice the number of medical assistant jobs.

• t= m + 173

The number of registered nurse jobs will grow 22 thousand

less than three times the number of medical assistant jobs.

• n= 3m - 22

If the total growth of these three jobs is predicted to be 1441

thousand, find the predicted growth of each job.

• t + m + n = 1441

Substituting t and n in the last equation and solving for m:

• m + 173 + m + 3m - 22 = 1441
• 5m + 151 = 1441
• 5m = 1441 - 151
• 5m = 1290
• m = 1290/5
• m = 258 thousand

Finding the rest

• t = m + 173 = 258 + 173 = 431 thousand
• n = 3m - 22 = 3*258 - 22 = 752 thousand