Can someone please show me how to solve this problem: A piece of wire 11 2/3 long is divided into two parts such that one part is 2/3 that of the other. find the length of the shorter piece.

Question

anonymous · Answer

you have a wire of 22/3 long and dive into two parts but, one is 2/3 of the other so:

(======================)    -    wire
|---------x-----------|----(2/3)x-|    -    22/3


therefore,  x + (2/3)x = 22/3
                (5/3)x = 22/3
                 x = (22/3)*(3/5)
                 x = 22/5 = 4  (2/5)

The smaller part is then:

(22/5)*(2/3) = 44/15 = 2  (14/15)

anonymous · Answer

is that right?

anonymous · Answer

The answer is 4 2/3. Hey.. 11 2/3 is not 35/3?

anonymous · Answer

ops, yea 11 2/3 is 35/3.  Just change (22/3) to (35/3) and you should get the right answer.

(x=7)