Question

How to solve this for the value of x?

Answer 1

Answer:

Let's assume the length of the middle portion as y since it's not given:

with that we can write

2x+4 + y = 17

and, 5x-2 + y = 17

Subtracting both equations to eliminate y now we get :

2x-5x + 4 -(-2) = 0

or, -3x = -6

or, x=2 inches