Question

A wire 24 cm long is cut into two pieces. The longer piece is 2 cm longer than the shorter piece.Find the length of the shorter piece of wire

Answer 1

Let x be the length of the longer piece and y the length of the shorter one. Then we have:

`\begin{gathered} i)\text{ }x+y=24 \\ ii)\text{ }x-y=2 \end{gathered}`

Adding equation i to equation ii, we have:

`\begin{gathered} x+x+y-y=24+2 \\ 2x=26 \\ x=13\text{ cm} \end{gathered}`

Applying this result in equation i, we have:

`\begin{gathered} 13+y=24 \\ y=11\text{ cm} \end{gathered}`

Therefore, the length of the shorter piece is 11 cm