SOLUTION: please help me with this word problem! a 309 inch wire is cut into three pieces. the second piece is 3 inches less than the first. the third piece is twice as long as the first.

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Question 723756: please help me with this word problem!
a 309 inch wire is cut into three pieces. the second piece is 3 inches less than the first. the third piece is twice as long as the first. how long is each piece?
Found 3 solutions by stanbon, mananth, DrBeeee:
Answer by stanbon(75887)   (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
a 309 inch wire is cut into three pieces. the second piece is 3 inches less than the first. the third piece is twice as long as the first. how long is each piece?
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1st piece: x
2nd piece: x-3
3rd piece: 2x
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Equation:
x + x-3 + 2x = 309
4x = 312
x = 78
======
x-3 = 75
2x = 156
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Cheers,
Stan H.

Answer by mananth(16946)   (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
first piece be x
second piece = x-3
Third is 2x
add them up. they are equal to 309
x+x-3+2x=309
4x-3=309
find x and other length by plugging the value of x

Answer by DrBeeee(684)   (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let x = the first piece.
Then the second piece is (x-3) and
the third piece is (2*x). Their sum is 309 or
(1) x + (x-3) + (2x) = 309 or
(2) 4x -3 = 309 or
(3) 4x = 312 or
(4) x = 78
Let's check using (1).
Is (78 + (78-3) + 2*78 = 309)?
Is (78 + 75 + 156 = 309)?
Is (309 = 309}? Yes
Answer: The three pieces, in order, are 78, 75, and 156 inches long.