The Becker Department Store's basement is 15 feet below ground. If the total length of the building from the basement to the roof is 70 feet, what is the building's elevation above ground?

Answer 1

To determine the building's elevation above ground, we need to take into account both the depth of the basement and the total height of the building.

1. The basement is 15 feet below ground. This means we can represent the ground level as 0 feet, and the basement level as -15 feet.
2. The total height of the building from the basement to the roof is 70 feet. Since the basement is 15 feet below ground, the height from the basement level to the roof level is indeed 70 feet.

To calculate the elevation of the roof above ground, we add the height of the building (70 feet) to the depth of the basement (15 feet):

\[ \text{Elevation above ground} = \text{Height of building} + \text{Depth of basement} \] \[ \text{Elevation above ground} = 70 \text{ feet} + 15 \text{ feet} = 85 \text{ feet} \]

Thus, the building's elevation above ground is 85 feet.