The area of a certain desert 1 is 8 times the area of another desert 2. If the sum of their areas is 18,000,000 squares miles, find the area of each desert

Question

I need help.

Answer 1

Let a = the area of desert 2.  The area of desert 1 is 8 times larger = 8a.

 

The sum of the areas of the two deserts is 18,000,000 square miles:

 

18,000,000 = (Area of desert 2 = a) + (Area of desert 1 = 8a)

 

18,000,000 = a + 8a

 

18,000,000 = 9a

 

Solve for a.