document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=256003>Question 256003</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Janelle cut a board 30 feet long into 2 pieces. The ratio of the lengths of the 2 pieces is 2:3. What is the length, to the nearest foot, of the shorter piece?\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "a) 5   b) 6   c) 12   d) 15  e) 18 </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #188159 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Theo><B>Theo(13342)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Theo><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=Theo><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=188159\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> let s = shorter board.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "let m = longer board.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "equation of ratio of shorter board to longer board is:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "s/m = 2/3\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "multiply both sides of this equation by m to get:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "s = (2*m)/3\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "total length of the 2 pieces is 30 feet.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "equation for that is:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "s + m = 30\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "substitute 2*m/3 for s to get:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "2*m/3 + m = 30\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "multiply both sides of this equation by 3 to get\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "2*m + 3*m = 90\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "combine like terms to get:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "5*m = 90\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "divide both sides of this equation by 5 to get:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "m = 90/5 = 18\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "m is the longer board.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "s is the shorter board.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "s = 2*m/3 = 2*18/3 = 2*6 = 12\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "shorter board is 12 feet long<BR>\n" );
document.write( "longer board is 18 feet long.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "12 + 18 = 30 (sum is good)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "12/18 = 6/9 = 2/3  (ratio is good)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "easier way to solve this is:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "ratio of shorter board to larger board is 2:3\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "that means that the shorter board has 2 parts and the longer board has 3 parts.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "2 parts + 3 parts = 5 parts that make up the total board.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "there are 30 feet / 5 parts = 6 feet of length to each part.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "the shorter board = 2 parts = 2 * 6 = 12 feet in length.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "the longer board = 3 parts = 3 * 6 = 18 feet in length.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
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