A 88 cm board is cut into two pieces. if one piece is 42 cm shorter than the other, how long are the two pieces?

Question

Just need help solving this problem

Answer 1

p = longer piece

p - 42 = small piece

 

p + p - 42 = 88             combine like terms

2p - 42 = 88                  add 42 to both side

2p = 130                       divide both sides by 2

p = 65

 

Check 

 

65 + 23

88