Question

How can $500 be divided between four people so that each person gets $20 more than the person before.

Answer 1

Answer:

$95, $115, $135, $155

Step-by-step explanation:

If the first person gets x dollars:

the next person gets 20 more, so x + 20 dollars

the next person gets x + 40 dollars

and the last person gets x + 60 dollars

We add all these allocations together, and we get $500

x + (x + 20) + (x + 40) + (x + 60) = 500

Combine like terms

4x + 120 = 500

Subtract 120 on both sides

4x = 380

Divide by 4 on both sides

x = 95

So the first person gets $95.

The second person must get $115

The third must get $135

And the fourth must get $155

Checking our work:

95 + 115 + 135 + 155 = 500