Question

A 47-inch piece of steel is cut into three pieces so that the second piece is twice as
long as the first piece, and the third piece is two inches more than six times the
length of the first piece. Find the lengths of the pieces
2x
6x+2
First, find an equation that represents the total length of the piece of steel in terms of x by adding the three pieces together,

Answer 1

Answer:

               first piece:    5 in

          second piece:   10 in

              third piece:   32 in  

Step-by-step explanation:

x   - the length of the first piece

2x    - twice the length of the first piece (the length of the second piece)

6x   - six times the  length of the first piece

two inches more:

6x+2    - the length of the third piece

first + second + third = 47 in  {total length of the pieces of steel}

x + 2x + 6x + 2 = 47

9x + 2 = 47

9x = 45

x = 45:9

x = 5 in

first piece:   5 in

second piece: 2×5 = 10 in

third piece:   6×5 + 2 = 30 + 2 = 32 in