Question

I'll give medal

A board, 54 cm long is cut into three pieces such that the second piece is twice as long as the first and the third is 4 cm longer than the second.

Find the length of the shorter piece.

Answer 1

so if the 1st piece is x

the 2nd piece is 2x

the 3rd piece is 2x + 4

you are told the the total length is 54

so that means the equation is

x + 2x + 2x+4 = 54

or

5x + 4 = 54

just solve for x

Answer 2

so x=10