SOLUTION: A piece of string 15 inches long is cut into four pieces. If each successive piece is half as long as the preceding piece, then the length of the first piece, in inches, is: (A)

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Question 280081: A piece of string 15 inches long is cut into four pieces. If each successive piece is half as long as the preceding piece, then the length of the first piece, in inches, is:
(A) 6 (B) 7 (C) 8 (D) 9 (E) 10
Answer by josmiceli(19441) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The lengths are:
L, L%2F2, L%2F4, L%2F8
L+%2B+L%2F2+%2B+L%2F4+%2B+L%2F8+=+15
L%2A%281+%2B+1%2F2+%2B+1%2F4+%2B+1%2F8%29+=+15
L%2A%2815%2F8%29+=+15
L+=+8
L%2F2+=+4
L%2F4+=+2
L%2F8+=+1
8+%2B+4+%2B+2+%2B+1+=+15
(C) 8 in