Question

A rope that is 168 ft long is to be cut into three pieces such that the second piece is 6 ft less than three times the first, and the third is 2 ft more than two-thirds of the second. Find the length of the longest piece.

Answer 1

Length of longest piece is 82 ft

Explanation:

Let the measure of the second piece be x

First piece be y

second piece is 6 ft less than 3 times the first

x = 3y - 6

y = (x + 6)/3

3rd piece = 2 + 2/3 * x

= 2 + 2x/3

Adding all equals 168

we only add in terms of x

so we have;

x + (x + 6)/3 + 2 + 2x/3 = 168

Multiply through by 3

3x + x + 6 + 6 + 2x = 504

6x + 12 = 504

6x = 492

x = 492/6

x = 82 ft

So the other pieces are

(x + 6)/3 = 82+6/3 = 88/3 ft

And lastly

2 + 2x/3

= 2 + 164/3 ft