SOLUTION: A segment is divided into two parts having lengths in the ratio of 5:3. If the difference between the length of the parts is 6", find the length of each part? I tried doing it like
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Question 442022: A segment is divided into two parts having lengths in the ratio of 5:3. If the difference between the length of the parts is 6", find the length of each part? I tried doing it like And i got (x = 1 1/3) and it was wrong what do I need to do?
You can put this solution on YOUR website! Let x and y be the lengths of the two segments.
Their ratio is 5/3 so we write this as:
x/y = 5/3
Their difference is 6 so we have:
x - y = 6 [Note that in the ratio above we let x be the larger of the two segments]
From the 1st equation we can express x in terms of y as:
x = 5/3y
Substitute this value in the 2nd equation:
5/3y - y = 6
Solve for y:
2/3y = 6
y = (3/2)6 = 9
Therefore x = (5/3)y = (5/3)9 = 15
So the lengths of the two segments are 9 and 15
Check:
Ratio = 15/9 = 5/3
Difference = 15 - 9 = 6
