Question 675149
let x = the shorter piece
the longer piece is 5 ft longer than the shorter piece so
x+5 = the longer piece

both pieces together = 17 ft
so our equation is   x+x+5=17
combine like terms
2x+5=17
subtract 5 from both sides
2x=12
divide both sides by 2 to get x by itself
x=6
to find the longer piece it was x+5 so 6+5

answer: the shorter piece is 6 ft long and the longer piece is 11 ft long

we can check our answer by adding the two pieces together and we should get 17ft
6+11=17
17=17