Question

Building a is 271 meters taller than building

b. If the height of building a is subtracted from twice the height of building​ b, the result is 211 meters. How tall is each​ skyscraper?

Answer 1

Let a and b represent the heights of the corresponding buildings (in meters).

... a = b +271 . . . . . . . a is 271 meters taller than b

... 2b -a = 211 . . . . . . if a is subtracted from twice b, the result is 211

Use the expression for a in the first equation to substitute for a in the second.

... 2b - (b+271) = 211

... b = 482 . . . . . . . . . . . simplify and add 271

... a = b +271 = 753

Building a is 753 meters tall; building b is 482 meters tall.