Final answer:
To find the lengths of the two parts of a line segment divided in the ratio of 2:5, set up an equation using the lengths as variables and solve for the values. The lengths of the two parts are 16 cm and 40 cm.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the length of each part, we need to divide the line segment into two parts in the ratio of 2:5. Let's assume the lengths of the two parts as 2x and 5x. Since the total length of the line segment is 56 cm, we can set up the equation 2x + 5x = 56. Simplifying this equation, we get 7x = 56. Dividing both sides by 7, we get x = 8. Therefore, the length of the first part is 2x = 2 * 8 = 16 cm, and the length of the second part is 5x = 5 * 8 = 40 cm. So, the correct answer is B. 16 cm and 40 cm.