Question

A 15-foot log is cut into two pieces. How long is each piece if the longer piece is 1.5 feet shorter than twice the shorter piece?

Answer 1

Given that:

A 15-foot log is cut into two pieces.

Longer piece is 1.5 feet shorter than twice the shorter piece.

Solution:

Let the length of shorter piece be x feet. So,

Length of longer piece = 2x-1.5 feet

Total length = x+(2x-1.5) feet

Now,

`x+(2x-1.5)=15`

`3x-1.5=15`

`3x=15+1.5`

`3x=16.5`

`x=(16.5)/(3)`

`x=5.5`.

So, length of shorter piece is 5.5 feet.

`(2x-1.5)=2(5.5)-1.5`

`(2x-1.5)=11-1.5`

`(2x-1.5)=9.5`

So, length of longer piece is 9.5 feet.