Question

A 150-yard pipe is cut to provide drainage for two fields. If the length of one piece (a) is three yards less than twice the length of the second piece (b), what are the lengths of the two pieces?

Answer 1

a = 99

b = 51

Explanation:

We can translate this problem into a linear equation. We know that:

2b - 3 = a

and

a + b = 150

We will start by minusing b from both sides in the second equation, giving us:

a = 150 - b

Then, we will substitute this into our second equation, giving us:

2b - 3 = 150 - b

We will add 3 and b to both sides, giving us:

3b = 153

Then we divide by 3:

b = 51

Now, we will substitute this into our second equation, giving us:

a + 51 = 150

Subtract 51 from both sides gives us:

a = 99

So, the a piece is 99 yards long, and the b piece is 51 yards long.

a = 99

b = 51

Hope this helped!