Answer: the length of Maria's piece of string is 45 inches.
the length of Katy's piece of string is 39 inches
Step-by-step explanation:
Let x represent the length of Maria's piece of string.
Let y represent the length of Katy's piece of string.
When they put the two pieces of string together end to end, the total length is 84inches. This means that
x + y = 84 - - - - - - - - - - - -1
Maria's string is 6 inches longer than Katy's. This means that
x = y + 6
Substituting x = y + 6 into equation 1, it becomes
y + 6 + y = 84
2y + 6 = 84
2y = 84 - 6 = 78
y = 78/2 = 39
x = y + 6 = 39 + 6
x = 45
