Final answer:
Mary invested $7,500 at a 3% interest rate and $17,500 at a 5% interest rate. We found these amounts by setting up a system of linear equations based on the total investment and total interest earned, and solving the system for both x and y, which represent the amounts invested at each interest rate.
Step-by-step explanation:
To solve the problem of how much Mary invested at each rate, we can use a system of linear equations. Let's define x as the amount invested at 3% interest and y as the amount invested at 5% interest. Since the total investment is $25,000, our first equation is x + y = 25,000. The second equation comes from the total interest earned, which is $1,100. The interest from each part of the investment is 0.03x + 0.05y = 1,100. To solve the system, we can use substitution or elimination.
Step 1: Rewrite the first equation in terms of x:
x = 25,000 - y
Step 2: Replace x in the second equation with 25,000 - y:
0.03(25,000 - y) + 0.05y = 1,100
Step 3: Simplify and solve for y:
750 - 0.03y + 0.05y = 1,100
0.02y = 1,100 - 750
0.02y = 350
y = 350 / 0.02
y = 17,500
Step 4: Use the value of y to find x:
x = 25,000 - 17,500
x = 7,500
Mary invested $7,500 at 3% interest rate and $17,500 at 5% interest rate.