Question

here are five rods a-1 a a a a+3 all measurements are in cm the total length of the five rods is l cm find a formula for l in terms of a write your formula as simply as possible

Answer 1

L is the total length of all the 5 rods.

Each of the 5 parts lengths are (a - 1 ), a, a, a, (a + 3), respectively.

We add all of them and equate it to I:

L = (a + 1) + a + a + a + (a + 3)

Simplifying this, we take like terms and add:

L = (a - 1 ) + a + a + a + (a + 3)

L = 5a - 1 + 3

L = 5a + 2

Answer 2

`I=5a+2` (simplified form)

Explanation:

I is the total length of all the 5 rods.

Each of the 5 parts lengths are
`(a-1), a, a, a, (a+3)`, respectively.

We add all of them and equate it to I:

`I=(a-1)+a+a+a+(a+3)`

Simplifying this, we take like terms and add:

`I=(a-1)+a+a+a+(a+3)\\I=5a-1+3\\I=5a+2`