Question

A 56​-inch board is to be cut into three pieces so that the second piece is twice as long as the first piece and the third piece is 5 times as long as the first piece. If x represents the length of the first​ piece, find the lengths of all three pieces.

What is the length of the first piece?

Answer 1

x = 1st piece, y = 2nd piece, z = 3rd piece

x + y + z = 56
y = 2x
z = 5x

x + 2x + 5x = 56
8x = 56
x = 56/8
x = 7 <=== 1st piece

y = 2x
y = 2(7)
y = 14....2nd piece

z = 5x
z = 5(7)
z = 35....3rd piece