document.write( "Question 106390: A 2-metre long wire is cut into 5 pieces. three of the shorter pieces have lenghts in cm, which are consecutive whole numbers while the two lnger pieces are each x cm. find the lenght of the shortest piece. \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #77408 by josmiceli(19441) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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The consecutive whole numbers can be called
\n" ); document.write( " $\"n\"$ , $\"n%2B1\"$ , $\"n%2B2\"$
\n" ); document.write( "The sum of the 2 longer pieces is $\"2x\"$
\n" ); document.write( "What if each longer piece were 100 cm? Then ther would be nothing left for the
\n" ); document.write( "other three pieces
\n" ); document.write( " $\"n+%2B+%28n%2B1%29+%2B+%28n%2B2%29+%2B+2%2A100+=+200\"$
\n" ); document.write( "Now keep making x smaller and see how much is left for the other three
\n" ); document.write( "lengths, and if they can be consecutive numbers.
\n" ); document.write( " $\"2x+=+198\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"1%2B2%2B3+=+6\"$ and $\"6+%2B+198\"$ is too big
\n" ); document.write( " $\"2x+=+196\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"1%2B2%2B3+=+6\"$ is still too big
\n" ); document.write( " $\"2x+=+194\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"1%2B2%2B3+=+6\"$ works out good
\n" ); document.write( " $\"194+%2B+6+=+200\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"2x+=+194\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"x+=+97\"$
\n" ); document.write( "So, the lengths are 1,2,3,97,97 \n" ); document.write( "

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