Twine into three pieces, lets call them x, y and z
The second piece is 7 times as long as the first piece 7x = y The third piece is 5 feet longer than the first piece x + 5 = z The total length of twine is 320 feet x + y + z = 320
This is a simultaneous equation. My goal is to make the final equation in terms of x <span>i.e. 5.5x = 320 </span>I choose the final equation because it is the only equation which has a value in it.
We will substitute the first and second equation into the third equation. 7x = y , x + 5 = z x + y + z = 320 x + (7x) + (x+5) = 320 9x + 5 = 320 9x = 315 x = 35 Now that we know x, we can substitute it into the first and second equation to find x and y 7x = y => 7(35) = y => 245 = y x + 5 = z => (35) + 5 = z => 40 = z
In summary >The first piece, x, is 35 feet long >The second piece, y, is 245 feet long >The third piece, z, is 40 feet log
