Question

Florida's coastline is 118 miles shorter than four times the coastline of Texas. It is also 983 miles longer than the coastline of Texas. Find the lengths of the coastlines of Florida and Texas.

Answer 1

F for Florida.
T for Texas.
Interpreting the sentences into equations, we have:

F =  4T -118.             (i)
F =    T + 983            (ii)

So we solve both equations now.
Substitute (ii) into (i).

F = 4T - 118
T + 983 = 4T - 118
T - 4T  =  -118 - 983
-3T    =  -1101    Divide both sides by -3.
T  = -1101/-3
T = 367 miles.

Using (ii)  F = T + 983,  F = 367 + 983 =  1350.
T = 367 miles,   F = 1350 miles.
Cheers.