A certain Social Security recipient will receive an annual benefit of $12,000 provided he has annual earnings of $9,360 or less, but the benefit will be reduced by $1 for every $3 of annual earnings over $9,360. What amount of total annual earnings would result in a 60 percent reduction in the recipient's annual Social Security benefit? (Assume Social Security benefits are not counted as part of annual earnings.)
Choose one:
A) $15,360
B) $17,360
C) $18,000
D) $23,760
E) $27,360
For every $3 earn above $9360, the recipient loses $1 of benefit.   OR   For every $1 loss in the benefit, the recipient earns $3 above $9360   If earning is; 9360+3x   Benefit = 12000-x   Or the vice versa   If benefit is 12000-x, the earning becomes 9360+3x   He lost 50% of the benefit;   Benefit Received= 12000-0.6*12000 = 12000-7200= 
<gadget id="calculator">12000-7200</gadget>
<output>4_800</output>
4800   Earning becomes 9360+3x=9360+3*4800= 
<gadget id="calculator">9360+3*4800</gadget>
<output>23_760</output>
23760   Ans:$23,760
<result>D</result>
A certain Social Security recipient will receive an annual benefit of $12,000 provided he has annual earnings of $9,360 or less, but the benefit will be reduced by $1 for every $3 of annual earnings over $9,360. What amount of total annual earnings would result in a 60 percent reduction in the recipient's annual Social Security benefit? (Assume Social Security benefits are not counted as part of annual earnings.)