the combined land area of the countries a and b is 127,973 square kilometers. country a is larger by 573 square kilometers. determine the land area of each country

Question

mathmale · Answer

This is an algebra problem in which you need to represent your unknowns with letters of the alphabet.  You could represent the larger area by A and the smaller area by B.  How are A and B related to each other?  Write an equation showing this relationship.

Doing so will allow you to eliminate one variable (A or B), producing a linear equation in one or the other.  If the total land area is 127,973 square kilometers, what is the land area (A or B) that you have not yet eliminated?

erniellyd28 · Answer

573?

jdoe0001 · Answer

how much is the land of say $\Large a+b=?$

mathmale · Answer

Again, you MUST use algebraic representation of quantities here.

Area of country a is A, and this area is 573 sq. km larger than the area of country b.

This translates into A = B + 573.

Add up A and B, substituting B+573 for A.  Equate this sum to the given total land area.  Find B.  Please show your work.