document.write( "Question 257049: A 17 foot rope is to be cut into two pieces with the result that the longer piece is 1 foot more than 3 times the shorter piece. How long should each piece of rope be? \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #189090 by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740)\"\" \"About 
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A 17 foot rope is to be cut into two pieces with the result that the longer piece is 1 foot more than 3 times the shorter piece. How long should each piece of rope be?
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\n" ); document.write( "let x = the shorter piece
\n" ); document.write( "let y = the longer piece
\n" ); document.write( "therefore:
\n" ); document.write( "x + y = 17
\n" ); document.write( ":
\n" ); document.write( "It states that, \"the longer piece is 1 foot more than 3 times the shorter piece.\"
\n" ); document.write( "therefore:
\n" ); document.write( "y = 3x + 1
\n" ); document.write( ":
\n" ); document.write( "Replace y with (3x+1) in the 1st equation
\n" ); document.write( "x + (3x + 1) = 17
\n" ); document.write( "4x = 17 - 1
\n" ); document.write( "4x = 16
\n" ); document.write( "x = 16/4
\n" ); document.write( "x = 4 ft is the shorter piece
\n" ); document.write( "then
\n" ); document.write( "y = 3(4) + 1
\n" ); document.write( "y = 13 ft is the longer piece \n" ); document.write( "
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