Question

If a wire 20 inches long is to be cut so that one piece is 2/3 as long as the other piece, how many inches long must the shorter piece be?

Answer 1

2 inches long the shorter piece

Answer 2

Let the larger piece be x, then the smaller piece will be 2/3x

$x + \frac{2}{3} x = 20$

$\frac{3x + 2x}{3} = 20$

$\frac{5x}{3} = 20$

$5x = 60$

$x = 12$

The smaller piece=

$\frac{2}{3} x = \frac{2}{3} \times 12$

$= 8inches$