how tall is big jim and how tall is little jim

Question

when big jim stands on a bench that is 15 inches high, the top of his head is 53 inches above the top of little jims head.  Big jims height is twice that of little jim.  How tall is big jim? How tall is little jim?

Answer 1

Let J = height of Little Jim.

Then Big Jim's height is 2J.

 

when big jim stands on a bench that is 15 inches high, the top of his head is 53 inches above the top of little jims head.  

 

The above given sentence means 15 + 2J = J + 53.

 

Review this statement & be sure you agree (and understand)--then you can do easy Algebra and solve for J, and thus know the two individual heights.