document.write( "Question 144674: I have 3 parts to my question:
\n" ); document.write( "A person cuts a board into two pieces that are equal in length. The first piece is 3 times the length of the person's forearm minus 1 inch. The second piece is 5 times the length of the person's forearm plus 15 inches.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "I have to
\n" ); document.write( "1.) Construct a linear equation that represents this situation using x as the variable for the person's forearm.
\n" ); document.write( "2) Solve the linear equation algebraically and graphically to find the length of the person's forearm.
\n" ); document.write( "3.) Discuss whether or not my answer is reasonable.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So, here is what I have come up with thus far...
\n" ); document.write( "x=3x-1+5x+15
\n" ); document.write( "x=8x+14 (combine like terms)
\n" ); document.write( "x=8x-8x+14
\n" ); document.write( "x-8x=14
\n" ); document.write( "-7x=14
\n" ); document.write( "(Divided by -7)
\n" ); document.write( "x=-2\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "And this is where I get lost. If my answer is correct I then substituted my answer of -2 into each equation:
\n" ); document.write( "3x-1=x
\n" ); document.write( "3(-2)-1=x
\n" ); document.write( "-6-1=x
\n" ); document.write( "-7=x\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "5x+15=x
\n" ); document.write( "5(-2)+15=x
\n" ); document.write( "-10+15=x
\n" ); document.write( "5=x\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "I am confused as to how to graph my equation?
\n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #105421 by vleith(2983)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let the two pieces of wood be y and z. Let x be the forearm\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "The system of equations is as :
\n" ); document.write( "\"y+=+3x+-1\"
\n" ); document.write( "\"z+=+5x+%2B+15\"\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "the graph is
\n" ); document.write( "\"graph%28600%2C+400%2C+-10%2C+10+%2C+-30%2C+10%2C+3x-1%2C+5x+%2B+15%29\"\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Is the answer reasonable? No. The value where to two plots meet yields \"x=-8\"\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "No one has a forearm that is negative in size.
\n" ); document.write( "
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