SOLUTION: Two houses are for sale on the same street. The second house has 1000 square feet less than twice the square feet of the first house. Together the houses have 4400 square feet. Wha

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Question 80814: Two houses are for sale on the same street. The second house has 1000 square feet less than twice the square feet of the first house. Together the houses have 4400 square feet. What is the square footage of the first house?
Answer by Earlsdon(6294) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
For the second house, you can write:
A%5B2%5D+=+2A%5B1%5D-1000 where:A%5B1%5D and A%5B2%5D are the areas of house 1 and house 2 respectively. You can also write:
A%5B1%5D%2BA%5B2%5D+=+4400 Rewrite this as: A%5B2%5D+=+4400-A%5B1%5D and substitute it for A%5B2%5D in the first equation.
4400-A%5B1%5D+=+2A%5B1%5D-1000 Simplify and solve for A%5B1%5D. Add A%5B1%5D to both sides.
4400+=+3A%5B1%5D+-1000 Add 1000 to both sides.
5400+=+3A%5B1%5D Divide both sides by 3.
1800+=+A%5B1%5D
The first house has 1,800 square feet.