SOLUTION: I have a story problem that I need to translate into an equation and solve (with a Let statement). It's easy for me to solve equations, but translating a story problem is just dif

Question 185511: I have a story problem that I need to translate into an equation and solve (with a Let statement). It's easy for me to solve equations, but translating a story problem is just difficult and confuses me.
The problem:
A board 190cm long is cut into three pieces. The second piece is three times the length of the first piece and the third piece is 10cm longer than twice the first piece. How long is each of the three pieces?
Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let x = length of first piece, y = length of second piece, and z = length of third piece

Since "The second piece is three times the length of the first piece", this tells us that and because "the third piece is 10cm longer than twice the first piece", this means that

Now the the sum of the three pieces should be equal to the total original length 190. In other words,

Start with the given equation.

Plug in and

Combine like terms on the left side.

Subtract from both sides.

Combine like terms on the right side.

Divide both sides by to isolate .

Reduce.

So the first piece is 30 cm

-------------------

Go back to the first equation

Plug in

Multiply

So the second piece is 90 cm

--------------------

Go back to the second equation

Plug in

Multiply

Add

So the third piece is 70 cm

===============================================

Answer:

So the lengths of the three pieces are

1st: 30 cm
2nd: 90 cm
3rd: 70 cm

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