Adam has a ribbon which is 210 cm long.
He cuts the ribbon into 3 pieces.
The first piece is 5 times as long as the second piece.
The third piece is 180 cm long.
- Find the total length of the first and third pieces.
- Find the difference in length between the second and the third piece.
(a)
Focus on the sentence with the word '
times'.
Assign 1 u to the variable that is found after the word '
times'.
Length of second piece = 1 u
Length of first piece = 5 u
Length of third piece = 180 cm
Length of the second and the third pieces
= 210 - 180
= 30 cm
5 u + 1 u = 30
6 u = 30
1 u = 30 ÷ 6 = 5
Total length of the first and third pieces
= 5 u + 180
= 5 x 5 + 180
= 25 + 180
= 205 cm
(b)
Difference in length between the second and the third piece
= 180 - 5
= 175 cm
Answer(s): (a) 205 cm; (b) 175 cm