Final answer:
To find the length of the shorter piece, set up an equation: x + 5x = 318 and solve for x. The length of the shorter piece is 53 inches.
Step-by-step explanation:
Let's assume the length of the shorter piece is x inches. According to the question, the other piece is five times the length of the shorter piece, so the length of the longer piece would be 5x inches.
Since the total length of the pipe is 318 inches, we can set up the equation x + 5x = 318 to solve for x. Combining like terms, we get 6x = 318. Dividing both sides by 6, we find that x = 53.
Therefore, the length of the shorter piece is 53 inches.
Learn more about Solving equations with unknown variables