A total of $32,000 is to invested, some in bonds and some in certificates of deposit (CDs). If the amount invested in bonds is to exceed that in CDs by $8,000, how much will be invested in each type of investment

I am going to set x=bonds and y=cds

equation one

x+y=32000

equation 2

x=y+8000

substitute equation 2 back into equation 1

(y+8000) + y=32000

2y+8000=32000

2y=24000

y=12000 (cds)

now you can take this y value and plug it back into either equation you want

x=12000+8000

x=20000 (bonds)

I think all you do is $32,000 / $8,000 which is $4,000.

Meaning $4,000 will be invested in each investment, I may be wrong though.