document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=385310>Question 385310</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> write an algebraic equation which could be used to solve the following problem.  then find the solution: \"A 40-inch rope is cut into three pieces so that the second piece is four times as long as the first and the third piece is three times as long as the first piece.  Find the length of all three pieces.\"\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "im so confused </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #272628 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=texttutoring><B>texttutoring(324)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-10.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=texttutoring><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=texttutoring><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=272628\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> It appears as if you have three variables, but if you keep reading the question, you'll see you can actually express the three lengths in terms of the first.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "We know the 3 lengths add up to 40. \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Let's let x = the first length\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "We also know the second length is 4 times the first, so the second length is 4x. That means the third length must be 3x. Putting it all together:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "x + 4x + 3x = 40<BR>\n" );
document.write( "8x = 40<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x = 40/8<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x = 5\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "So the first length is 5 inches.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "The second length is 5*4 = 20 inches<BR>\n" );
document.write( "The third length is 3*5 = 15 inches.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Check that the three lengths add up to 40:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "5+15+20 = 40\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Yes, it works! Good job you're done. </SPAN>\n" );
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