Question

A piece of string is 40 cm long. It is cut into 3 pieces. The longest piece is two and half times as long as the middle-sized piece and the shortest piece is 20 cm shorter than the longest piece. Find the length of the shortest piece (in cm).

Answer 1

Answer:

5 cm

Step-by-step explanation:

Answer 2

Answer:

shortest piece is 5 cm

Step-by-step explanation:

consider the length of middle piece as X

longest piece is 2.5 times middle piece = 2.5 X

shortest piece =2.5 X - 20 cm

total length of string = longest piece + middle piece + shortest piece

40 cm= 2.5 X + X +2.5 X - 20

40 cm = 6 X - 20

40 cm + 20 cm = 6 X

60 cm = 6 X

X = 60/6

X = 10 cm

middle piece = X = 10 cm

longest piece = 2.5 X = 2.5×10=25 cm

shortest piece = 2.5 X-20 = 25-20 = 5 cm

check

10+25+5=40

40=40

hence checked