SOLUTION: two trees and ash and an oak, grew together side by side in the forest. Over the years the ash grew to be one and a quarter times as high as the oak. One day the woodcutter came

Algebra ->  Algebra  -> Coordinate Systems and Linear Equations -> SOLUTION: two trees and ash and an oak, grew together side by side in the forest. Over the years the ash grew to be one and a quarter times as high as the oak. One day the woodcutter came       Log On

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Question 85528: two trees and ash and an oak, grew together side by side in the forest. Over the years the ash grew to be one and a quarter times as high as the oak. One day the woodcutter came along and lopped 3 meters off the height of both trees and now the ash is one and a third times the height of the oak. How high was the ash originally
Answer by stanbon(48545) About Me  (Show Source):
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An ash and an oak grew together side by side in the forest. Over the years the ash grew to be one and a quarter times as high as the oak. One day the woodcutter came along and lopped 3 meters off the height of both trees and now the ash is one and a third times the height of the oak. How high was the ash originally
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"One Day" DATA:
Ht. of oak = x ft. ; Ht of ash = (5/4)x ft
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"After Cut" DATA:
Ht of oak = x-3 ft ; Ht of ash = (5/4)x-3
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EQUATION:
ash = (4/3)oak
(5/4)x-3 = (4/3)(x-3)
Multiply both sides by 12 to get rid of the denominators:
15x-36 = 16x-48
x=12 ft (original ht of oak)
(5/4)x = (5/4)12 = 15 ft. (original ht of ash)
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Cheers,
Stan H.