Answer: $85,000
Step-by-step explanation:
Given : In a given population of two-earner male-female couples, male earnings have a mean of $40,000 per year and a standard deviation of $12,000.
[tex]\mu_M=40,000\ \ ;\sigma_M=12,000[/tex]
Female earnings have a mean of $45,000 per year and a standard deviation of $18,000.
[tex]\mu_F=45,000\ \ ;\sigma_F=18,000[/tex]
If C denote the combined earnings for a randomly selected couple.
Then, the mean of C will be :-
[tex]\mu_c=\mu_M+\mu_F\\\\=40,000+45,000=85,000[/tex]
Hence, the mean of C = $85,000