SOLUTION: Two pieces of rope that are equal in length. The first piece is 4 times the length of a piece of wood minus 1 inch. The second piece is 3 times the length of the same piece of wood

Question 130891: Two pieces of rope that are equal in length. The first piece is 4 times the length of a piece of wood minus 1 inch. The second piece is 3 times the length of the same piece of wood plus 14. solve and draw a graph. x as the variable for the piece of wood.
I know that 4x-1 and 3x+14 but not sure how to write it out correctly. Thank you for your help.
Answer by ptaylor(2198) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
ok So far, you are right on!!!!
Let x=variable for the piece of wood
And let y=the length of each piece of rope
Then y=4x-1 (red)-------------------------eq1
and y=3x+14 (green)--------------------------eq2
subtract eq1 from eq2:
-x+15=0
x=15 substitute this into eq1 or 2
y=4*15-1=59
y=3*15+14=59
This tells us that the wood is 15" and each piece of rope is 59"

Hope this helps--ptaylor