document.write( "Question 962173: a 36 cm long stick is broken into two pieces. one piece is three times as long as the other. how long is the shortest piece? \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #587850 by Fombitz(32388) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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$\"X%2BY=36\"$
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\n" ); document.write( " $\"X=3Y\"$
\n" ); document.write( "Substituting,
\n" ); document.write( " $\"3Y%2BY=36\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"4Y=36\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"Y=9\"$
\n" ); document.write( "Then,
\n" ); document.write( " $\"X%2B9=36\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"X=27\"$
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