Question 702191
Check the ratio.  3 parts to 5 parts.  The original 24 inch long wood will be cut to two lengths, so there are 3 parts making up a short length and 5 parts making up a long length.  That is 3+5 = 8 parts.  The two resulting pieces are in the ratio of 3 to 5,  or 3:5.


Think carefully --- how many parts is the original 24 inch piece of wood?  8 parts!


How do you cut 24 inches into 8 equal parts?  Each part is 3 inches.  The original 24 inch wood is composed of 8 parts of 3 inches each.


The longer piece, being 5 parts, is 5 parts!  The original 24 inch wood is as we found, 8 parts.  Ratio of Long resulting piece to original uncut piece is 5:8.