Word problem

Question

 A Boy bought a party length sandwich 59.in long. He wants to cut it into three pieces so that middle piece is 6 in. Longer than the shortest piece and the shortest piece is 8 in. Shorter than the longest piece. How long should the three pieces be?

Answer 1

Hi Elizabeth,

 

Well the question made me hungry for a sandwich but I'll help you set up things.

 

The three pieces add together to 59 inches.

You don't know the exact length of any of the pieces. So it's Algebra time.

Use one variable to represent one of the pieces, and define each piece in terms of that variable.

 

For example, use X to represent the length of the shortest piece.

Your equation is now:

X + middle piece + longest piece = 59 inches.

 

 

Define the middle piece and longest piece in terms of the variable X, and you should then be able to solve for X, the length of the shortest piece. Then use the relationships mentioned in the question, based on this value for X.

 

Good luck!

Answer 2

Let x=the length of the shortest piece

 

x+6 = the length of the middle piece

 

x+8 = the length of the longest piece

 

the three pieces must add up to 59. The original length of the sandwich 

 

so so add them together and set equal to 59

 

x + x+6 + x+8 = 59

 

3x + 14 = 59

 

3x=45

 

x= 15

 

the other pieces are x+6 = 21. 

And x+8 = 23

 

add 15+21+23=59. And all checks out