Word Prob: About $32.8b spend on remodelling. Twice as much

[stephanie953]

My book has this problem in it:

"In a recent year, Americans spent a total of approximately 32.8 billion to remodel bathrooms and kitchens. Twice as much was spent on kitchens as on bathrooms. How much was spent on each?"

I thought maybe it was something like

X + 2X = 32.8..... that didn't seem right

Then I thought maybe 2/3X = 32.8

I am lost on this. Can someone please send me in the right direction. I have an assignment due tomorrow and this is the only problem I cannot get.

 

[mammothrob]

your first one was the right way to start.

Assuming you went this way

x = amount spent on bathrooms
y = amount spent on kitchens

so 2x=y

x + y = 32.8

sub in 2x for y

x + 2x = 32.8

solve for that and you have the amount spent on bathrooms.

try and finish it.

 

[stephanie953]

I came to x = 10.9333....

I rounded it to 10.9 for bathrooms and 21.9 for kitchens. Is that right? They said approximately in the question so I figured I was aloud to round.

 

[mammothrob]

Your right...

you can check it by adding your found x and y togeather and comparing with the total amount spent.

 

[stephanie953]

Thanks very much for the help guys. This is a great service you have here!