Question 978453
 A reel of electric wire 150 metres long cut into two pieces.
 One is 40 metres shorter than twice the length of the other.
 How long is each piece.
:
let a = length of a piece of wire
"One is 40 metres shorter than twice the length of the other." therefore:
2a - 40 = length of the other piece
:
a + (2a-40) = 150
3a = 150 + 40
3a = 190
a = 190/3
a = 63{{{1/3}}} meter is the length of one piece
then
2*63{{{2/3}}} - 40 = 86{{{2/3}}} meters is the length of the other