Question

A 36​-ft board is cut into 2 pieces so that one piece is 44 feet longer than 3 times the shorter piece. If the shorter piece is x feet​ long, find the lengths of both pieces.

Answer 1

If the shorter piece is x feet long, the longer piece is 3x+4 feet long, and the total length is

... x + (3x+4) = 36

... 4x = 32 . . . . . . . . simplify, subtract 4

... x = 8

The shorter piece is 8 feet long; the longer piece is 28 feet long.

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You can do the math for the longer piece in your head: 36 ft - 8 ft = 28 ft.