SOLUTION: A board 21 ft long is cut into two pieces. Five times the length of the shorter piece is 1 ft more than three times the length of the longer piece. Find the length of the two piece

Algebra ->  Customizable Word Problem Solvers  -> Misc -> SOLUTION: A board 21 ft long is cut into two pieces. Five times the length of the shorter piece is 1 ft more than three times the length of the longer piece. Find the length of the two piece      Log On

Ad: Over 600 Algebra Word Problems at edhelper.com


    

Question 375837: A board 21 ft long is cut into two pieces. Five times the length of the shorter piece is 1 ft more than three times the length of the longer piece. Find the length of the two pieces
Answer by ewatrrr(24785) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!


Hi,

Let x represent length of the shorter piece

then (21ft -x) would represent the lomger piece

Question states***

5x = 3(21ft-x) +1ft

solving for x

5x = 63ft - 3x + 1ft

8x = 64ft

x = 8 ft, the length of the shorter piece

Longer piece is 13ft  (21ft-8ft)

CHECKING our Answer***

5*8ft = 3*13ft + 1ft = 40ft