Mr. Siglar is a famous speaker. He travels and gives an average of 8 speaches each week. Auditoriums are always full they have 2000 in each. he charges $15 each person. His average expenses for each presentation are 14,000. The cost of meals, jet travel, and support personnel totals 85,000 per week. How many weeks will Mr. Ziglar need to travel if he wants to earn 129,000 per year... That's whats being asked. My teacher just assumes we know how to write an equation out of this. I cant seem to set this up properly. I always have an issue determining my x variable?

Question

Mr. Siglar is a famous speaker. He travels and gives an average of 8 speaches each week. Auditoriums are always full they have 2000 in each.  he charges $15 each person.  His average expenses for each presentation are 14,000. The cost of meals, jet travel, and support personnel totals 85,000 per week.  How many weeks will Mr. Ziglar need to travel if he wants to earn 129,000 per year...   That's whats being asked.  My teacher just assumes we know how to write an equation out of this.  I cant seem to set this up properly. I always have an issue determining my x variable?

Reiny · Answer

Your teachers's expectations are quite reasonable. let the number of weeks be w income for each speech (not speach) = 15(2000) income each week = 8(15(2000) so 8(15)(2000)w - 8(14000)w - 85000w = 129000 I get w=3, so he has to do this only for 3 weeks check: number of speeches = 24 income for 24 speeches = 24(15)(2000) = 720000 expenses for presentation = 24(14000) = 336000 support expenses = 3(85000) = 255000 net income = 720000 - 336000 - 255000 = 129000