SOLUTION: A reel of electric wire 150 metres long cut into two pieces. One is 40 metres shorter than twice the length of the other. How long is each piece.

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Question 978453: A reel of electric wire 150 metres long cut into two pieces. One is 40 metres shorter than twice the length of the other. How long is each piece.
Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740) About Me  (Show Source):
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A reel of electric wire 150 metres long cut into two pieces.
One is 40 metres shorter than twice the length of the other.
How long is each piece.
:
let a = length of a piece of wire
"One is 40 metres shorter than twice the length of the other." therefore:
2a - 40 = length of the other piece
:
a + (2a-40) = 150
3a = 150 + 40
3a = 190
a = 190/3
a = 631%2F3 meter is the length of one piece
then
2*632%2F3 - 40 = 862%2F3 meters is the length of the other