Question

The plumber wants to cut a 24-ft length of pipe into three sec- tions. The largest piece should be twice the length of the middle piece, and the middle piece should be twice the length of the smallest piece. How long should each piece be?

Answer 1

Answer: Length of smallest piece is 3.43 feet.

Length of middle piece is 2× 3.43 = 6.86 feet

Length of largest piece is 4× 3.43 = 13.72 feet.

Explanation:

Let the length of smallest piece be x

According to question, the middle piece is twice the length of the smallest piece.

So, length of middle piece be 2x

According to question, the largest piece is twice the length of the middle piece.

So, length of largest piece be 2(2x)=4x

Total length of pipe = 24 ft

So, it becomes,

`x+2x+4x=24\\\\7x=24\\\\x=(24)/(7)\\\\x=3.43\ ft`

Length of smallest piece is 3.43 feet.

Length of middle piece is 2× 3.43 = 6.86 feet

Length of largest piece is 4× 3.43 = 13.72 feet