Question

The length of a board is 55 inches. The board needs to be cut into 2 pieces with one piece 5 inches longer than the other piece.What is the length of the longer piece? Use an equation with a variable.

Answer 1

The length of longer piece is 30 inches

Solution:

Let "x" be the length of longer piece

Let "y" be the length of shorter piece

The length of a board is 55 inches

Therefore,

x + y = 55 -------- eqn 1

The board needs to be cut into 2 pieces with one piece 5 inches longer than the other piece

Therefore,

x = 5 + y ------- eqn 2

Substitute eqn 2 in eqn 1

5 + y + y = 55

2y = 55 - 5

2y = 50

y = 25

Substitute y = 25 in eqn 1

x + 25 = 55

x = 55 - 25

x = 30

Thus the length of longer piece is 30 inches