A 240-in. pipe is cut into two pieces. One piece is three times the length of the other. What are the lengths of the pieces?

1 Answer
Mar 28, 2018

The lengths are #60# inches and #180# inches.

Explanation:

Let's represent the longer piece of pipe with the variable #L# and the smaller piece of pipe with the variable #S#.

Since the pipe is going to be the length of #L# and #S# together, we can make this equation:
#L + S = 240#

We also know that the longer piece is three times the shorter piece or:
#L = 3S#

Substitute the second equation into the first equation:

#L + S = 240#

#(3S) + S = 240#

#4S = 240#

#S = 60#

The shorter piece is #60# inches.

Now substitute the find the length of the longer piece:

#L = 3S#

#L = 3(60)#

#L = 180#

The longer piece is #180# inches.