Question 215138
A 90 foot rope is cut into two pieces so that the longer piece is 5 feet more than three times the shorter piece. Find the length of both pieces.


Step 1.  Let x be the shorter piece and let 3x+5 be the longer piece.


Step 2.  Adding the two pieces will give 90 ft or x+3x+5=90.


Step 3.  Solving will yield the following steps


{{{x+3x+5=90}}}


{{{4x+5=90}}}


{{{4x+5-5=90-5}}}


{{{4x=85}}}


{{{4x/4=85/4}}}


{{{x=21.25 feet}}}


With x=21.25 feet, then 3x+5=68.75 feet.  Note that the two pieces add up to 90 feet.


I hope the above steps were helpful. 


For free Step-By-Step Videos on Introduction to Algebra, please visit http://www.FreedomUniversity.TV/courses/IntroAlgebra or for Trigonometry visit http://www.FreedomUniversity.TV/courses/Trigonometry.


And good luck in your studies!


Respectfully,
Dr J