Answer :
Let's solve this step by step.
1. Let [tex]\( x \)[/tex] be the amount Sam invested the first year.
2. Investments made by Sam over the three years:
- First year: [tex]\( x \)[/tex]
- Second year: [tex]\( 2x \)[/tex]
- Third year: [tex]\( \frac{x}{5} + 1000 \)[/tex]
3. Investments made by Sally over the three years:
- First year: [tex]\( 2x \)[/tex]
- Second year: [tex]\( 2x - 1500 \)[/tex]
- Third year: [tex]\( x \)[/tex]
4. Calculate the total investment by Sam over the three years:
- Total investment by Sam [tex]\( = x + 2x + \left(\frac{x}{5} + 1000\right) \)[/tex]
5. Calculate the total investment by Sally over the three years:
- Total investment by Sally [tex]\( = 2x + (2x - 1500) + x \)[/tex]
6. Equate the total investments since Sam and Sally invested the same total amount:
[tex]\[ x + 2x + \left(\frac{x}{5} + 1000\right) = 2x + (2x - 1500) + x \][/tex]
7. Simplify the equation to find [tex]\( x \)[/tex]:
- Left side: [tex]\( x + 2x + \frac{x}{5} + 1000 = \left(\frac{5x}{5} + \frac{10x}{5} + \frac{x}{5}\right) + 1000 = \frac{16x}{5} + 1000 \)[/tex]
- Right side: [tex]\( 2x + 2x - 1500 + x = 5x - 1500 \)[/tex]
- Equate the two sides:
[tex]\[ \frac{16x}{5} + 1000 = 5x - 1500 \][/tex]
- Multiply everything by 5 to clear the fraction:
[tex]\[ 16x + 5000 = 25x - 7500 \][/tex]
- Rearrange the terms to solve for [tex]\( x \)[/tex]:
[tex]\[ 5000 + 7500 = 25x - 16x \][/tex]
[tex]\[ 12500 = 9x \][/tex]
[tex]\[ x = \frac{12500}{9} \][/tex]
Hence, the amount Sam invested the first year is [tex]\( \boxed{\frac{12500}{9}} \)[/tex] dollars.
1. Let [tex]\( x \)[/tex] be the amount Sam invested the first year.
2. Investments made by Sam over the three years:
- First year: [tex]\( x \)[/tex]
- Second year: [tex]\( 2x \)[/tex]
- Third year: [tex]\( \frac{x}{5} + 1000 \)[/tex]
3. Investments made by Sally over the three years:
- First year: [tex]\( 2x \)[/tex]
- Second year: [tex]\( 2x - 1500 \)[/tex]
- Third year: [tex]\( x \)[/tex]
4. Calculate the total investment by Sam over the three years:
- Total investment by Sam [tex]\( = x + 2x + \left(\frac{x}{5} + 1000\right) \)[/tex]
5. Calculate the total investment by Sally over the three years:
- Total investment by Sally [tex]\( = 2x + (2x - 1500) + x \)[/tex]
6. Equate the total investments since Sam and Sally invested the same total amount:
[tex]\[ x + 2x + \left(\frac{x}{5} + 1000\right) = 2x + (2x - 1500) + x \][/tex]
7. Simplify the equation to find [tex]\( x \)[/tex]:
- Left side: [tex]\( x + 2x + \frac{x}{5} + 1000 = \left(\frac{5x}{5} + \frac{10x}{5} + \frac{x}{5}\right) + 1000 = \frac{16x}{5} + 1000 \)[/tex]
- Right side: [tex]\( 2x + 2x - 1500 + x = 5x - 1500 \)[/tex]
- Equate the two sides:
[tex]\[ \frac{16x}{5} + 1000 = 5x - 1500 \][/tex]
- Multiply everything by 5 to clear the fraction:
[tex]\[ 16x + 5000 = 25x - 7500 \][/tex]
- Rearrange the terms to solve for [tex]\( x \)[/tex]:
[tex]\[ 5000 + 7500 = 25x - 16x \][/tex]
[tex]\[ 12500 = 9x \][/tex]
[tex]\[ x = \frac{12500}{9} \][/tex]
Hence, the amount Sam invested the first year is [tex]\( \boxed{\frac{12500}{9}} \)[/tex] dollars.