Answer:
Sa is the salary of the governor of state A
Sb is the salary of the governor of state A
"The governor of state A earns $53,745 more than the governor of state B. "
This means that:
Sa = Sb + $53,745
"If the total of their salaries is $289,405,"
means that:
Sa + Sb = $289,405
Then we have two equations:
Sa = Sb + $53,745
Sa + Sb = $289,405
Now, we can replace the first equation into the second equation:
(Sb + $53,745) + Sb = $289,405
2*Sb = $289,405 - $53,745 = $235,660
Sb = ($235,660)/2 = $117,830
and:
Sa = Sb + $53,745 = $117,830 + $53,745 = $171,575
Governor of state A earns: $171,575
Governor of state B earns: $117,830
