A piece of ribbon 2200 cm long is cut into 3 parts, C, B and A.
C is 2 times as long as B.
A is 240 cm shorter than B.
Give the answers in cm.

1. How much longer is C than B?
2. What is the total length of C and A?

(a)
Choose the shortest length to be 1 u.

Length of A = 1 u
Length of B = 1 u + 240
Length of C = 2 x (1 u + 240) = 2 u + 480

Total length of C, B and A
= 2 u + 480 + 1 u + 240 + 1 u
= 2 u + 1 u + 1 u + 480 + 240
= 4 u + 720

4 u + 720 = 2200
4 u = 2200 - 720
4 u = 1480

1 u = 1480 ÷ 4 = 370

Length of C longer than B
= 2 u + 480 - (1 u + 240)
= 2 u - 1 u + 480 - 240
= 1 u + 240
= 1 x 370 + 240
= 370 + 240
= 610 cm

(b)
Total length of C and A
= 2 u + 480 + 1 u
= 3 u + 480
= 3 x 370 + 480
= 1110 + 480
= 1590 cm

Answer(s): (a) 610 cm; (b) 1590 cm