Problema Solution
A 47-foot-long piece of pipe is to be cut into three pieces. The second piece is three times as long as the first piece, and the third piece is two feet more than five times the length of the first piece. What is the length of the longest piece?
Answer provided by our tutors
let
x = the length of the first piece
y = the length of the second piece
z = the length of the third piece
x + y + z = 47
the second piece is three times as long as the first piece
y = 3x
the third piece is two feet more than five times the length of the first piece
z = 2 + 5x
by solving the system of equations
x + y + z = 47
y = 3x
z = 2 + 5x
we find
x = 5 ft
y = 15 ft
z = 27 ft
click here to see the step by step solution of the system of equations
the length of the longest piece is 27 feet.