a 14ft board is to be cut into 3 pieces, 2 equal length and the third 3 inches shorter than the other two.how long are the pieces?

Question

no length should be lost.

Answer 1

Look at what you are given; 2 pieces are of equal length, call them x and x. The third piece is three inches shorter, so it is x - 3. The sum of all the pieces is 14. So x + x + x - 3 = 14

3x - 3 = 14

3x = 17

x = 17/3 or 5  2/3 inches

 

So two are 5  2/3 and one is 2 2/3.  

Check by adding up all three pieces and make sure it adds up to 14.

 

Make sense?  Keep asking if it doesn't.

 

Mary