The second flight of stairs

Question

the second flight of stairs is three times as high as the first flight of stairs. Together they are 40 feet high. How high is the first flight of stairs?

Answer 1

Let x = height of first flight of stairs

 

"second flight of stairs is three times as high as the first flight of stairs"    means

 height of second flight of stairs   = 3x

 

"Together they are 40 feet high"    means

 Height of first flight   +   height of second flight      =    40 ft

            x                  +             3x                         =    40 ft

 

        4x = 40 ft

         x = 10 ft

 

The height of the first flight of stairs is 10 feet.