Question

A 15-foot log is cut into two pieces. How long is each piece if the longer piece is 1.5 feet shorter than twice the shorter piece?

Answer 1

Length of shorter piece is 5.5 foot and length of longer piece is 9.5 foot.

Explanation:

It is given that a 15-foot log is cut into two pieces.

The longer piece is 1.5 feet shorter than twice the shorter piece.

Let the length of shorter piece be x foot.

Length of longer piece = (2x-1.5) foot

Combine length of both pieces = x+(2x-1.5) foot

Now,

`x+(2x-1.5)=15`

`3x-1.5=15`

`3x=15+1.5`

`3x=16.5`

Divide both sides by 3.

`x=5.5`

Length of shorter piece = 5.5 foot. So, length of longer piece is

`2(5.5)-1.5=11-1.5=9.5`

Therefore, length of shorter piece is 5.5 foot and length of longer piece is 9.5 foot.