Question

The difference in the height of the two rectangles is 7 feet.

One rectangle has a height of 6.2 feet and another has a height of y feet.

What is the value of y?


y =

Answer 1

To find the value of \( y \), we can use the information given in the problem. We know that the difference in the heights of the two rectangles is 7 feet.

We can express this relationship mathematically as follows:

\[
|6.2 - y| = 7
\]

This absolute value equation can be split into two separate cases:

1. \( 6.2 - y = 7 \)
2. \( y - 6.2 = 7 \)

Let's solve each case separately.

**Case 1:**
\[
6.2 - y = 7
\]
Subtracting 6.2 from both sides, we get:
\[
-y = 7 - 6.2
\]
\[
-y = 0.8
\]
Multiplying by -1 gives:
\[
y = -0.8
\]

**Case 2:**
\[
y - 6.2 = 7
\]
Adding 6.2 to both sides, we get:
\[
y = 7 + 6.2
\]
\[
y = 13.2
\]

Now, we have two possible values for \( y \): \( -0.8 \) and \( 13.2 \).

Since height cannot be negative, the valid solution is:
\[
y = 13.2
\]

Thus, the value of \( y \) is:
\[
\boxed{13.2}
\]