document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=8616>Question 8616</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> A board 18 ft long is cut into two pieces. Two feet less than the product of five and the length of the smaller piece is equal to the difference between three times the length of the longer piece and eight. Find the length of each piece.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Here's what I've done and I know I don't have it setup right.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "5x-2+x+18<BR>\n" );
document.write( "6x=20<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x=3 1/3\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "x+3x+8=18<BR>\n" );
document.write( "4x=26<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x=6 1/2 </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #4786 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=rapaljer><B>rapaljer(4671)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=rapaljer><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=rapaljer><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=4786\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> The way I did it, always start off by identifying the variables:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Let x = length of smaller piece<BR>\n" );
document.write( "18-x = length of longer piece\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "The equation is tricky, but just follow the wording of the sentence that is given:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "5(smaller) - 2 = 3(longer) - 8<BR>\n" );
document.write( "5(x) - 2 = 3(18-x) - 8 <BR>\n" );
document.write( "5x - 2 = 54 - 3x - 8<BR>\n" );
document.write( "5x - 2 = 46 - 3x\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Add 3x to each side:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "5x + 3x - 2 = 46 - 3x + 3x<BR>\n" );
document.write( "8x - 2 = 46\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Add +2 to each side:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "8x = 48<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x=6 smaller piece<BR>\n" );
document.write( "18-x = 12 longer piece\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Check:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "5(6) -2 = 3(12) - 8<BR>\n" );
document.write( "30-2= 36-8<BR>\n" );
document.write( "28 = 28  <BR>\n" );
document.write( "It checks!\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "R^2 at SCC </SPAN>\n" );
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