Question 204235
If T is the length of the tail, and the body is B which is the head plus the tail, then B = T + 9.

Since the tail (T) is equal to the head plus one-half the body,
then T = H + B

substituting the known H value of 9 and the B equation 'value' above gives us:  T = 9 + ½(T + 9).

T = 9 + ½(T + 9)
T = 9 + ½T + 4½
T = ½T + 13½
½T = 13½
T = 27
The tail is then 27 inches.
Since the body is the size of the head plus the tail, the body is 9 + 27 or 36 inches.

The entire fish, head + body + tail, is 9 + 36 + 27 to equal its length of 72 inches.