A 135 foot cable is cut into two pieces, one which is 7 feet longer than the other. What is the length of the longer piece?

Question

anonymous · Answer

$$x+x+7=135$$
$$2x+7=135$$
$$2x=128$$
$$x=64$$

anonymous · Answer

shorter one is 64, longer is 71

anonymous · Answer

how is the longer one 71?

stacey · Answer

If we let x represent the shorter piece of rope, 
then the longer piece of rope is x+7.

anonymous · Answer

because i solved for the short one and it was 64.  the long one is 7 feet longer than 64 so it must be 71

anonymous · Answer

you can check that this is right.  71 is 7 more than 64 and 64+71=135

stacey · Answer

By adding those two pieces we will have the whole cable or 135 feet.
So the starting equation was x + (x+7) = 135.

anonymous · Answer

thanks :)

anonymous · Answer

so, longer cable is of 21 feet 
and shorter = 14 feet

anonymous · Answer

what?