SOLUTION: an 100-foot cable is cut into two pieces.the first piece is 18 feet longer than the second piece.how long is each piece?

Question 184998: an 100-foot cable is cut into two pieces.the first piece is 18 feet longer than the second piece.how long is each piece?
Answer by swiemers(10) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
You need to assign variables for the two pieces of cable. They would be:
x
x + 18
Then you need to set up an equation with what they have given you, which is that the two pieces of cable together equal 100. So, the equation would be:
x + x + 18 = 100
Then you solve for x by combining like terms:
2x + 18 = 100
Then you need to move the 18 over:
2x = 82
Then you divide both sides by 2:
x = 41
This is your first piece of cable. The second one you can find from the first equations you found:
x + 18 = your second piece of cable, so sub in the value you have found for x:
41 + 18 = 59
Therefore, your two pieces of cable are:
41 feet and 59 feet
Hope this helps! Good luck! Sandy :-)
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