SOLUTION: A 20-foot board is cut into two pieces. Twice the length of the shorter piece is 2 ft less than the length of the longer piece. Find the length of each piece.

Question 662464: A 20-foot board is cut into two pieces. Twice the length of the shorter piece is 2 ft less than the length of the longer piece. Find the length of each piece.

Answer by ReadingBoosters(3246) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
x=shorter
y=longer
2x=y-2
x+y=20
Either 1)multiply x+y=20 by 2 and substitue 2x into the equation OR
2)divide the 2x equation by 2 on both sides and substitute x into the second equation.
Option 1
2(x+y=20) is equivalent to 2x+2y=40
substitute 2x=y-2
y-2+2y=40
3y=40+2
3y=42
y=14, so x = 20-14 = 6
Option 2
2x/2=y/2-2/2
substitute into x+y=20
y/2-1+y=20
y/2+y=21
y/2+2y/2=21
3y/2=21
3y=42
y=14, so 2x=14-2=12/2=6
Either way, the pieces are 14ft and 6ft
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Delighted to help
-Reading Boosters
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