Question

Question #c856b

Answer 1

There are 16 windows on the first floor.

Explanation:

Let `x` equal the number of windows on the second floor.

Thus, the number of windows on the first floor is equal to `x-2`, and the number of windows on the third floor is `x/2`.

Given that there are 9 windows on the third floor, we set `x/2` equal to 9 and find that:
`x/2=9`
`x=18`

There are thus 18 windows on the second floor, but there are two fewer on the first floor. Therefore the first floor has 16 windows.

Answer 2

`16` windows on the first floor.

Explanation:

We have to define a variable first to be able to make an equation.

The first floor has the smallest number of windows, so,
let the number of first floor windows be `x`.

Write the windows on the other floors in terms of `x`

The second floor has two more: `" ":.x+2` windows

The third floor has half as many as the second floor:

The number of windows on the the third floor = `(x+2)/2`

But there are `9` windows on the third floor.
`:. (x+2)/2 = 9" "larr` solve for x

`x+2 = 2xx9`

`x =18-2`

`x = 16`

`16` windows on the first floor.