Question

an 18-foot wire is to be cut so that the longer piece is 5 times longer than the shorter piece. find the length of each peice

Answer 1

The longer piece is 15 feet long and the shorter piece is 3 feet long.

Explanation:

Create a system of equations where x is the length of the longer piece and y is the length of the shorter piece:

x + y = 18

x = 5y

Solve by substitution by substituting 5y as x into the first equation:

x + y = 18

5y + y = 18

Solve for y:

6y = 18

y = 3

So, the shorter piece is 3 feet long. Since the longer piece is 5 times longer, find its length by multiplying this by 5:

3(5)

= 15

So, the longer piece is 15 feet long.

The longer piece is 15 feet long and the shorter piece is 3 feet long.