Question

A 24 foot long piece of string was cut into two pieces. One piece is 16 feet shorter than the other.

Find the length of each piece.

Answer 1

20 inches and 4 inches

Explanation:

let x equal the length of the longer piece.

since the shorter piece is 16 feet shorter, the shorter piece= x-16

both of the pieces equal 24 feet

x + x - 16 = 24

2x = 40

x = 20

the longer piece is 20 ft

20 - 16 = 4

the shorter piece is 4 ft

Answer 2

Let x be length of one piece (the shorter)
then x + x+16 = 24
==> 2x + 16 = 8
==> 2x=8
==> x = 4
so, the lengths are 4 feet and 20 feet