Question

3. A drinking straw of length 21 cm is cut into 3 pieces. The length of the first piece is x cm.

The second piece is 3 cm shorter than the first piece. The third piece is twice as long as the
first piece
State, in terms of x, the length of EACH of the pieces.
(2 marks)
(ii)
Write a simplified expression, in terms of x, to represent the sum of the lengths of
the three pieces of drinking straw.
(2 marks)
(iii)
Hence, calculate the lengths for the 3 pieces of straw
(4marks)

Answer 1

I'll setup the problem and you can do the calculations

Explanation:

Total length of straw - L

Length of piece 1 - x

Length of piece 2 - y

Length of piece 3 - z

What's given and the answer to (i)

y = x - 3

z = 2x

(ii) L = x + y + z = x + x - 3 + 2x

L = 4x-3

(iii) x = (21+3)/4 = 24/4

leaving you to calculate x

then substitute x into expressions for y & z above and you will have the answer

comment if you have questions