document.write( "Question 468815: The length of a tunnel was 22 1/2 times its width. If the length had been 50 feet less, it would have been 20 times the width. Find its length; its width. \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #321648 by josmiceli(19441) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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Let $\"a\"$ = the tunnel's width
\n" ); document.write( "Let $\"b\"$ = the tunnel's length
\n" ); document.write( "given:
\n" ); document.write( "(1) $\"+b+=+22.5a+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "(2) $\"+b+-+50+=+20a+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "---------------
\n" ); document.write( "Substitute $\"b\"$ in (1) for $\"b\"$ in (2)
\n" ); document.write( "(2) $\"+22.5a+-+50+=+20a+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "Add $\"50\"$ to both sides
\n" ); document.write( "(2) $\"+22.5a+=+20a+%2B+50+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "Subtract $\"+20a\"$ from both sides
\n" ); document.write( "(2) $\"+2.5a+=+50+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "(2) $\"+25a+=+500%0D%0A%282%29+%7B%7B%7B+a+=+20+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "And, since
\n" ); document.write( "(1) $\"+b+=+22.5a+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "(1) $\"+b+=+22.5%2A20+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "(1) $\"+b+=+450+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "The tunnel is 20 ft wide and 450 ft long
\n" ); document.write( "check answer:
\n" ); document.write( "(2) $\"+b+-+50+=+20a+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "(2) $\"+450+-+50+=+20%2A20+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "(2) $\"+400+=+400+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "OK \n" ); document.write( "

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