Question

the combined land area of the countries a and b is 186,973 square kilometers. Country a is larger by 373 square kilometers determine the land area of each country

Answer 1

so a+b=186973

a is bigger than b by 373
that means
b+373=a
so we subsitute
a+b=186973
b+373+b=186973
subtract 373 from both sides
b+b=186600
2b=186600
divide both sides by 2
b=93300

subsitute
b+373=a
93300+373=a
93673=a

a=93673 km^2
b=93300 km^2