Question

A 36-inch string is to be cut so that one piece is 9 inches longer than the other. What is the length of the shorter piece?

Answer 1

Answer:

The shorter piece is 13.5 inches.

Step-by-step explanation:

Let the shorter piece be x inches long. That means the longer piece will be x+9 inches long.

Put the two pieces together and the total is 36 inches:

x + x+9 = 36

Combine like terms.

2x + 9 = 36

Subtract 9 from both sides.

2x = 27

Divide by 2.

x = 13.5

The shorter piece is 13.5 inches. The longer piece is 22.5 inches.

13.5 + 22.5 = 36