Question

A 55 inch pipe is cut into two pieces. One piece is four times the length of the other find the length of the shorter piece.

Answer 1

11 inches, 44 inches

Explanation:

First of all, we need to make this equation, into an algebraic one:

4x + x = 55

The x represents the number of inches for the rope.

Now you simplify:

5x = 55

This equation can be simplified to a regular division problem:

55/5 = x

Using basic division, x is equal to 11 inches.

Now, this is just the shorter rope.

Note that the other piece is 4 times larger than the short one:

4 x 11 = 44

Thus 11 inches and 44 inches is the answer

Answer 2

11 inches

Explanation:

4x + x = 55 Combine like terms

5x = 55 Divide both sides by 5

x = 11 This is the length of the shortest piece the other piece is 44 4(11)