Word problem

Question

And electrician cuts 21 ft piece of wire into two pieces. One piece is 4 ft longer than the other. How long are the pieces?

Answer 1

Let the short piece be length x

The longer piece is length x+4

These lengths must sum to 21 ft

 

x + x + 4 = 21

2x = 21-4

2x = 17

x = 8 1/2 ft

 

x + 4 = 12 1/2 feet