Answer:
1st piece = Piece A = 5 inches
2nd piece = Piece B = 10 inches
Third Piece = Piece C = 27 inches
Explanation:
A 42-inch piece of steel is cut into 3 pieces
Let the lengths be represented as:
1st piece = Piece A
2nd piece = Piece B
Third Piece = Piece C
Hence:
A + B + C = 42
The 2nd piece is twice as long as the 1st piece
B = 2A
The 3rd piece is 2 inches more than 5 times the length of the first piece.
C = 5A + 2
Hence: we substitute
A + B + C = 42 inches
A + 2A + 5A + 2 = 42 inches
8A = 42 - 2
8A = 40 inches
A = 40 inches/8
A = 5 inches
Solving for B
B = 2A
B = 2 × 5 inches
B = 10 inches
Solving for C
C = 5A + 2
C = 5 × 5 + 2
C = 25 + 2
C = 27 inches
Therefore, the lengths of the 3 pieces =
1st piece = Piece A = 5 inches
2nd piece = Piece B = 10 inches
Third Piece = Piece C = 27 inches