Answer:
The length of the shorter piece is 13 inches
Step-by-step explanation:
Let's represent the longer piece of pipe with the variable L and the shorter piece of pipe with variable S.
Since the pipe is going to be the length of L and S together, we can make this equation:
L+S=52
Also we know that the longer piece is three times the shorter piece or
L=3S
Substitute the second equation into the first equation.
L+S=52
3S+S=52
4S=52
Divide both sides by 4
4S/4=52/4
S=13 inches
The length of the shorter piece is 13 inches....
To find the length of longer piece, put the value S=13 in L=3S
L=3S
L=3(13)
L=39 inches
The length of the longer piece is 39 inches....
