Question

An electrician cuts a 136 foot long piece of cable. One piece is 16 feet less than 3 times the length of the other piece. Find the length of each piece

Answer 1

98 ft and 38 ft

Explanation:

We know that the initial length of the piece is 136 feet

Then the piece is cut into two pieces.

Let's call x the length of the first piece of cable and call z the length of the second piece of cable.

So we know that

`x + z = 136`

and

`x = 3z-16`

Now we substitute the second equation in the first one and solve for the variable z

`3z-16 + z = 136`

`4z-16= 136`

`4z= 136+16`

`z= (152)/(4)`

`z=38\ ft`

Now we find the length x

`x + 38 = 136`

`x= 136-38`

`x= 98\ ft`