# Math Help - Word problem???

1. ## Word problem???

The federal government has not been free of debt for over 130 year. Assuming a population of 274 million in 1999, the cost of paying off the national debt in 1999 would have been approximately $20,700 for every American citizen. Using -20,700 as the average cost per citizen, what negative number represents the national debt in 1999? (Round your answer to the nearest tenth of a trillion dollar.) 2. Originally Posted by Ash The federal government has not been free of debt for over 130 year. Assuming a population of 274 million in 1999, the cost of paying off the national debt in 1999 would have been approximately$20,700 for every American citizen.

Using -20,700 as the average cost per citizen, what negative number represents the national debt in 1999? (Round your answer to the nearest tenth of a trillion dollar.)
Debt per citizen 20700, so tolal debt 20700x274000000=5,671,800,000,000,
or a credit of -5.7 trillion dollars.

RonL

3. Originally Posted by CaptainBlack
Debt per citizen 20700, so tolal debt 20700x274000000=5,671,800,000,000,
or a credit of -5.7 trillion dollars.

RonL

Thanks a lot!!! That's what I thought the answer was!!!