document.write( "Question 1163136: A rope is cut into 3 parts in the ratio 1:4:5. The longest pieces is the cut into 3 smaller parts in the ratio 2:4:3.As a result there are 5 ropes and shorest piece measures 2.7cm. What is the ratio of the length of the shortest rope to the length of the second longest rope?? \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #787131 by Edwin McCravy(20056)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
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document.write( "When something is divided into 3 parts in the ratio a:b:c the respective\r\n" );
document.write( "3 parts are these 3 fractions a/(a+b+c), b/(a+b+c), and c/(a+b+c) of the\r\n" );
document.write( "whole. \r\n" );
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document.write( "The sum of the 3 parts of the ratios are 1+4+5=10 and 2+4+3=9. Their LCM is\r\n" );
document.write( "90, so let's let the length of the original rope be 90x.\r\n" );
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document.write( "We cut the original rope into pieces which are 1/10, 4/10, and 5/10 of the\r\n" );
document.write( "length 90x, which are the lengths:\r\n" );
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document.write( "9x, 36x, 45x\r\n" );
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document.write( "Then we cut the 45x piece into smaller pieces which are 2/9, 4/9, and 3/9 of\r\n" );
document.write( "the length 45x, which are the lengths:\r\n" );
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document.write( "10x, 20x, 15x.\r\n" );
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document.write( "The shortest rope is 9x.\r\n" );
document.write( "The second longest piece is 36x.\r\n" );
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document.write( "So the ratio is 9:36 or 1:4.\r\n" );
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document.write( "The difference between our answers is the ambiguous \"2nd longest piece\". I\r\n" );
document.write( "took it to mean the 2nd longest piece before we cut up what was originally\r\n" );
document.write( "the longest piece.\r\n" );
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document.write( "Greenestamps took it to mean the 2nd longest after the longest was cut up\r\n" );
document.write( "and what was the 2nd longest before the longest was cut up, was no longer\r\n" );
document.write( "the 2nd longest.  I suppose he's right.  But 1:4 is a nicer answer. lol\r\n" );
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document.write( "Edwin
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