<PRE><B>Question 164903</B>
A WIRE 10 IN. LONG IS CUT INTO TWO PIECES
Let x be the length of the shorter piece and y be the length of the longer piece
Then x+y=10      eqn1
Given THE TOTAL OF THREE TIMES THE LENGTH OF THE SHORTER PIECE AND ONE IS EQUAL TO THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TWICE THE LENGTH OF THE LONGER PIECE AND FOUR
that is 3x+1=2y-4
3x-2y=-5       eqn2
solving the 2 eqns we get
adding 3x-2y=-5
and 2x+2y=20
5x=15
x=3
from eqn1 3+y=10
y=7
therefore the length of the longer piece is 7inch
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