Expert: Paul Klarreich - 6/3/2006

Question
Tiffany
Business Math

An estate is split three ways: Greg receives 19 1/2%, Kathleen receives 26 3/4%, and Jeff receives the balance. If Jeff's share amounts to $80,625, how many dollars will Kathleen receive?


If you can help me set it up step by step, I'd appreciate it

Thanks

Answer
Hi, Tiffany,

You wrote:

Greg receives 19 1/2%, Kathleen receives 26 3/4%, and Jeff receives the balance, WHICH IS  100 - (19.5 + 26.75) percent.  

The arithmetic there is:  100 - 46.25 = 53.75%, which is Jeff's share, which we are told is 80625.

The Algebra is:

Let Estate = the value of the entire estate.
(Note capital E first, then small e for estate.)

So  0.5375 Estate = 80625 and therefore
Estate = 80625/0.5375.

Your calculator will tell you that the Estate is (tadaaaaa)  150000 smackers.

And Kathleen will get  0.2675*150000 = 40125.