Answer :
Answer:
First piece = a = 5 inches
Second piece = b = 10 inches
Third piece = c = 37 inches
Step-by-step explanation:
Let us represent:
First piece = a
Second piece = b
Third piece = c
52-inch piece of steel is cut into three pieces.
a + b + c = 52 inches
The second piece is twice as long as the first piece
= b = 2a
The third piece is two inches more than seven times the length of the first piece.
= c = 2 + 7(a)
Find the lengths of the pieces. The lengths of the first, the second, and the third pieces are in, in, and in respectively.
a + b + c = 52 inches
Substitute 2a for b
2 + 7a for c
a + 2a + 2 + 7a = 52
Collect like terms
10a = 52 - 2
10a = 50
a = 50/10
a = 5 inches.
b = 2a
b = (2 × 5)
b = 10 inches
c = 2 + 7a
= 2 + 7(5)
= 2 + 35
= 37 inches