SOLUTION: a 20-foot board is cut into two pieces the longer piece is 4.5 feet longer then the shorter piece. What is the length of each piece?

Algebra ->  Human-and-algebraic-language -> SOLUTION: a 20-foot board is cut into two pieces the longer piece is 4.5 feet longer then the shorter piece. What is the length of each piece?      Log On


   

Question 389107: a 20-foot board is cut into two pieces the longer piece is 4.5 feet longer then the shorter piece. What is the length of each piece?
Answer by haileytucki(390) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
x+(x+4.5)=20
Remove the parentheses around the expression x+4.5.
x+x+4.5=20
Since x and x are like terms, add x to x to get 2x.
2x+4.5=20
Since 4.5 does not contain the variable to solve for, move it to the right-hand side of the equation by subtracting 4.5 from both sides.
2x=-4.5+20
Add 20 to -4.5 to get 15.5.
2x=15.5
Divide each term in the equation by 2.
(2x)/(2)=(15.5)/(2)
Simplify the left-hand side of the equation by canceling the common factors.
x=(15.5)/(2)
Divide 15.5 by 2 to get 7.75.
x=7.75 feet shorter piece
7.75+4.5=12.25 feet (longer piece)