SOLUTION: Hi A strip of paper was cut into 2 pieces in the ratio of 1:2. The longer piece was then cut into 2 pieces in the ratio of 3:4. The difference between length of the longest piece

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Question 1176917: Hi
A strip of paper was cut into 2 pieces in the ratio of 1:2. The longer piece was then cut into 2 pieces in the ratio of 3:4. The difference between length of the longest piece and the shortest piece was 12cm. What was the length of the paper before it was cut.
Thanks
Answer by Boreal(15235) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
It helps to draw this.
the paper is in pieces x and 2x
the 2x is divided in a 3:4 ratio and the resulting pieces are (6/7)x and (8/7)x to make a 3:4 ratio--(2x/7)*3 and *4.
The shortest piece of the three is (6/7)x, so the difference is (8/7)x-(6/7)x=(2/7)x=12 cm.
x=42 cm
2x=84 cm
the answer is the sum or 126 cm
the 84 cm length side is divided up into 36 cm and 48 cm sizes.