Answer: 11 inches
Explanation:
You know one piece is five times the size of the other so 5 is the coefficient for x, which represents the unknown number we multiply by 5 and add with the other x to get the total 66 inches.
5x + x = 66
Now add the like terms.
5x + x = 6x
Your equation then looks like this:
6x = 66
Divide by 6. (In other words, do the inverse operation.)
x = 11
Reason:
You divide 6x by 6 which cancels out.
Then you divide 66 by 6 to get 11.
x = 11
Last step:
Substitute in the x. This helps you make sure the x is correct. If it is, you will end up with 66.
5(11) + 11 = 66
Since this is true, now you can find what the length is for the shorter side.
We know the longer side is 55, so now we know the short side is 11.