SOLUTION: 1. When it is assembled, a flute is 27 inches long. The middle piece is 5 inches longer than the first piece. The last piece is 2 inches less than two-thirds as long as the first p

Question 1153241: 1. When it is assembled, a flute is 27 inches long. The middle piece is 5 inches longer than the first piece. The last piece is 2 inches less than two-thirds as long as the first piece. Find the length of each piece of the flute.

Having trouble with this question. I have tried numerous ways to solve for the length of each piece and am coming up empty. Thanks Mayra
Found 2 solutions by josgarithmetic, MathTherapy:
Answer by josgarithmetic(39617) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
x, the length of the first piece

x+5, the middle piece

(2/3)x-2, the last piece

Further steps to find and solve should be no trouble.
Answer by MathTherapy(10551) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!

1. When it is assembled, a flute is 27 inches long. The middle piece is 5 inches longer than the first piece. The last piece is 2 inches less than two-thirds as long as the first piece. Find the length of each piece of the flute.

Having trouble with this question. I have tried numerous ways to solve for the length of each piece and am coming up empty. Thanks Mayra

Let length of 1st piece be F
Then length of middle piece = F + 5
Also, length of last piece =
We then get:
------ Subtracting 3 from each side, after combining like-terms
6F + 2F = 72 ----- Multiplying by LCD, 3
8F = 72
F, or length of 1st piece =
You should be able to find the lengths of the other 2 pieces now!
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