Question

The length of a piece of string is x cm long. Another piece measures x+5cm long. If the second piece is 20% longer than the first,calculate the value of x.

Answer 1

x = 25 cm

Explanation:

20% =

20/100 = 0.20

20% longer =

20% + 100% =

120% =

120/100 = 1.20

Hence, x+5 is 1.20 times that of x:

x * 1.20 = x + 5

1.2x = x + 5

1.2x - x = 5 ==> subtract x on both sides to move x to one side of the

equation

1.2x - 1x = 5 ==> 1x = x

(1.2 - 1)x = 5 ==> distribution property

0.2x = 5

x = 25 ==> multiply both sides by 5 ( 0.2 * 5 = 1 )