Question

Building A is 170 feet shorter than building B. The total height of the two buildings is 1520 feet. what is the height of each building?

Answer 1

Answer: 675 + 845 should equal 1520 according to our equation. And of course it does.

Answer 2

Explanation:

If A is 170 less than B, than the equation for that is:

A = B - 170 (1) where the word "is" means equals and less than is subtraction.

If the total of A + B is 1520, then

A + B = 1520 (2). Sub equation (1) into equation (2):

(B - 170) + B = 1520 and

2B - 170 = 1520 and

2B = 1690 so

B = 845. Building B is 845 feet tall and Building A is

A = 845 - 170 (this is equation (1) with the height of B subbed in) so

A = 675 feet

675 + 845 should equal 1520 according to our equation. And of course it does.