SOLUTION: A 90 foot rope is cut into two pieces so that the longer piece is 5 feet more than three times the shorter piece. Find the length of both pieces.

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Question 215138: A 90 foot rope is cut into two pieces so that the longer piece is 5 feet more than three times the shorter piece. Find the length of both pieces.
Answer by drj(1380) About Me  (Show Source):
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A 90 foot rope is cut into two pieces so that the longer piece is 5 feet more than three times the shorter piece. Find the length of both pieces.

Step 1. Let x be the shorter piece and let 3x+5 be the longer piece.

Step 2. Adding the two pieces will give 90 ft or x+3x+5=90.

Step 3. Solving will yield the following steps

x%2B3x%2B5=90

4x%2B5=90

4x%2B5-5=90-5

4x=85

4x%2F4=85%2F4

x=21.25+feet

With x=21.25 feet, then 3x+5=68.75 feet. Note that the two pieces add up to 90 feet.

I hope the above steps were helpful.

For free Step-By-Step Videos on Introduction to Algebra, please visit http://www.FreedomUniversity.TV/courses/IntroAlgebra or for Trigonometry visit http://www.FreedomUniversity.TV/courses/Trigonometry.

And good luck in your studies!

Respectfully,
Dr J