M = 4b
m = b + 27
4b = b + 27
4b - b = 27
3b = 27
b = 27/3
b = 9......Brandon is 9
m = 4b
m = 4(9)
m = 36.....Michael is 36
The first = x => the second = x + 4
Sum = x + (x+4) = 56
2x + 4 = 56
2x = 52
x = 26 - the first => the second = 30
8( 7x - 1) +4(x + 5) = 56x - 8 + 4x +20
56x - 8 + 4x + 20 = 60x + 12
Answer = 60x + 12
<u>Answer:</u>
Center of the rail rise above the ground in 17 m.
<u>Solution:
</u>
The railroad rail is 3 km = 3000 meter
It expands 20 cm = 0.2 meter on hot day in length
So it will form a triangle with base 3000 m and the equal sides will be 
Let us assume that the center of the rail will raise x meter.
So using Pythagoras theorem,





Taking square roots on both sides we get,

So, the rail raise 17 meter from the ground
.