Response:
$125,000.12 last year
$375,000.36 this year
Step-by-step clarification:
Last year, her earnings were x.
This year, her earnings are three times greater, thus they equal 3x.
For both years combined, the total earnings amount to x + 3x = 4x.
The earnings across both years together total $500,000.48
4x = 500,000.48
Dividing both sides by 4 gives us
x = 500,000.48/4
x = 125,000.12
Thus, last year's earnings were $125,000.12
This year, her profits amounted to 3x = 3(125,000.12) = 375,000.36, totaling $375,000.36