Question

A cable 103.6 meters long is cut into two pieces so that one piece is 52.6 meters longer than the other. Find the length of each piece of cable.

Type the product of the lengths of the two pieces, rounded to the nearest tenth.

Answer 1

Explanation:

Let the smaller piece = x

Then the larger piece = x + 52.6

Now they must add to 103.6

x + x + 52.6 = 103.6 Combine like terms on the left

2x + 52.6 = 103.6 Subtract 52.6 from both sides

2x = 103.6 - 52.6

2x = 51 Divide by 2

x = 51/2

x = 25.5

x + 52.6 = 25.5 + 52.6 = 78.1

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The product is 78.1 * 25.5 = 1991.6