document.write( "Question 1210636: 2 portions of metal chain has the following description:\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Circular links, all same size, .5 inches in thickness.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Chain A: 3 feet in length.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Chain B: 22 inches in length.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "One portion contained 6 links more than the other.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Calculate number of links in each chain.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Not sure how to solve.
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Algebra.Com's Answer #854587 by greenestamps(13367)\"\" \"About 
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\n" ); document.write( "Let x be the \"inside\" length in inches of each link.

\n" ); document.write( "Since the thickness of the links is .5 inches, the length of a \"chain\" of 1 link is (x+1) inches.

\n" ); document.write( "Adding each new link increases the total length of the chain by x inches, so the length of a chain of 2 links is (2x+1) inches, the length of a chain of 3 links is (3x+1) inches,... and the length of a chain of n links is (nx+1) inches.

\n" ); document.write( "The longer chain in the problem contains 6 more links than the shorter chain, so the difference in the lengths of the two chains is 6x.

\n" ); document.write( "Since the longer chain is 14 inches longer than the shorter chain...

\n" ); document.write( "6x = 14
\n" ); document.write( "x = 14/6 = 7/3

\n" ); document.write( "The length of the shorter chain is 22 inches. To find the number of links in that chain...

\n" ); document.write( "nx+1 = 22
\n" ); document.write( "n(7/3)+1 = 22
\n" ); document.write( "(7/3)n = 21
\n" ); document.write( "n = 21/(7/3) = 9

\n" ); document.write( "ANSWERS: The number of links in the shorter chain is 9; the number in the longer chain is 9+6 = 15
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