SOLUTION: Board Cutting A 72-in board is cut into two pieces. One piece is 2 in. longer than the other. Find the lengths of the pieces. Solve using the 5 step problem solving strategy.

Question 72635This question is from textbook Developmental Mathematics
: Board Cutting A 72-in board is cut into two pieces. One piece is 2 in. longer than the other. Find the lengths of the pieces. Solve using the 5 step problem solving strategy.
I do not understand how to write the equation. I don't understand from the examples shown in the book. Help please This question is from textbook Developmental Mathematics

Answer by bucky(2189) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
I'm not sure what the 5-step problem solving process that the book asks you to use is, but
if you're having trouble with it, here's another way to look at this problem.
.
If you're going to cut the 72 inch board into two pieces, you can call one of the pieces x
units long. And since the other piece is 2 inches longer than your first piece, its length
is x + 2.
.
And when you place these two pieces back together, their lengths should add up to be 72 inches.
.
You can write this last statement about adding the two pieces together to get a 72 inch piece
again in equation form as:
.
x + (x+2) = 72
.
If you add the two terms on the left you get:
.
2x + 2 = 72
.
To solve this begin by subtracting 2 from both sides to get rid of the 2 on the left side.
This subtraction from both sides results in:
.
2x = 70
.
Now just divide both sides by 2 to find that:
.
x = 35
.
So one of the boards is 35 inches long and the other board is 2 inches longer so it has
to be 37 inches long. The sum of the lengths of the two boards is 72 inches and one of the
boards is 2 inches longer than the other. We have met all the requirements of the problem.
.
Maybe this will help you to see a logical way to think your way through to a solution.
Sort of like learning to ride a bike. A lot of practice helps you to get good at it.
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