Math

QuestionA 10-foot board is cut into 3 pieces. One piece is 1 foot longer than the shortest and 2 feet shorter than the longest. Find the lengths.

Studdy Solution

STEP 1

Assumptions1. The total length of the board is10 feet. . The board is cut into three pieces.
3. One piece is one foot longer than the shortest piece.
4. The same piece is also two feet shorter than the longest piece.

STEP 2

Let's denote the lengths of the three pieces as xx, yy, and zz, where xx is the shortest piece, yy is the piece that is one foot longer than xx and two feet shorter than zz, and zz is the longest piece.

STEP 3

From the problem, we know that y=x+1y = x +1 and y=z2y = z -2. We can write these equations asy=x+1y = x +1y=z2y = z -2

STEP 4

We also know that the total length of the board, which is the sum of the lengths of the three pieces, is10 feet. So, we can write this asx+y+z=10x + y + z =10

STEP 5

Now, we have a system of three equations. We can solve this system by substitution. First, substitute yy from the first equation into the third equationx+(x+1)+z=10x + (x +1) + z =10

STEP 6

implify the equation2x+z+1=102x + z +1 =10

STEP 7

Rearrange the equation to isolate zzz=102x1z =10 -2x -1

STEP 8

implify the equationz=2xz = -2x

STEP 9

Now, substitute yy from the second equation into the equation we just foundz=(z2)+2z = (z -2) +2

STEP 10

implify the equationz=zz = z

STEP 11

This equation is always true, so it doesn't give us any new information. Instead, substitute zz from the equation z=9xz =9 -x into the equation y=zy = z -y=(9x)y = (9 -x) -

STEP 12

implify the equationy=72xy =7 -2x

STEP 13

Now, we have two equations for yy: y=x+y = x + and y=72xy =7 -2x. Set these two equations equal to each other and solve for xxx+=72xx + =7 -2x

STEP 14

Rearrange the equation to isolate xx3x=63x =6

STEP 15

Divide both sides by3 to solve for xxx=2x =2

STEP 16

Now that we have xx, we can find yy and zz by substituting xx into the equations y=x+y = x + and z=92xz =9 -2xy=2+=3y =2 + =3z=92times2=5z =9 -2\\times2 =5So, the lengths of the three pieces are2 feet,3 feet, and5 feet.

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