Question

The tail of a kite is 1.5 feet plus twice the length of the kite. Together, the kite and tail are 15.5 ft long. Find the length of the tail.

What is the length of the tail? Show your work.

Answer 1

10 5/6 feet

Explanation:

Tail= 1.5+2Kite

Kite+Tail=15.5

x+1.5+2x=15.5

3x=15.5-1.5

3x=14

x=14/3=4 2/3

Kite=4 2/3

Tail= 1.5+2(4 2/3)=10 5/6

Answer 2

We know that the kite with the tail is 15 feet and 6 inches. While 6 inches is 0,50 foot, it's 15,5 feet. If the lenght of the kite is x, then:

15,5 = x + 1,5 + 2x

15,5 = 3x + 1,5 / - 1,5 (both sides)

14 = 3x / : 3 (both sides)

x ≈ 4,66

The kite is approx .4,66 feet long. It means that the tail is about 15,5 - 4,66 = 10,84 feet long.