Question

A 40-inch board is to be cut into three pieces so that the second piece is 3 times as long as the first piece and the third piece is 4 times as long as the first piece. If x

represents the length of the first piece, find the lengths of all three pieces.
What is the length of the first piece?
What is the length of the second piece?
What is the length of the third piece?

Answer 1

The first piece is 5 inches long, while the second is 15 inches and the third one is 20 inches.

Explanation:

To determine the length of the 3 pieces, knowing that the total of the board is 40 inches, and that the second measures 3 times more than the first and the third measures 4 times more than the first, the following equation must be performed:

X + 3X + 4X = 40

8X = 40

X = 40/8

X = 5

Therefore, the first piece is 5 inches long, while the second is 15 inches and the third 20 inches.