Question

the bar graph shows the average number of years a group of people devoted to their most time - consuming activities. according to the graph, a person from this group will devote 30 years to sleeping and eating food. the number of years sleeping will exceed the number of years eating food by 22. over a lifetime, how many years will be spent on each of these activities? years will be spent on sleeping and years will be spent on eating food.

Explanation:

Step1: Set up equations

Let $x$ be the number of years sleeping and $y$ be the number of years eating food. We know that $x + y=30$ and $x - y = 22$.

Step2: Add the two equations

Adding the two - equations $(x + y)+(x - y)=30 + 22$. Simplifying the left - hand side gives $2x$, and the right - hand side is 52. So, $2x=52$.

Step3: Solve for $x$

Dividing both sides of the equation $2x = 52$ by 2, we get $x=\frac{52}{2}=26$.

Step4: Solve for $y$

Substitute $x = 26$ into the equation $x + y=30$. Then $26+y=30$. Subtracting 26 from both sides gives $y=30 - 26 = 4$.

Answer:

26; 4