A wire 18 cm long is cut into two pieces. The longer piece is 2 cm longer than the shorter piece.

Answer 1

A wire 18 cm long is cut into two pieces. The longer piece is 2 cm longer than the shorter piece.

x is the longer wire

x-2 is the shorter wire

The sum of x + x-2 = 18

Therefore: x + x-2 = 18

Combine like terms x + x = 2x

Equation now looks like this 2x - 2 = 18

Now, add 2 to each side of the equation which gives you

2x = 20

x = 10

x-2 = 8