Question

Janice attached two hoses together.
The combined length was 9.9 meters.
One hose was 30 centimeters shorter than the other hose. What is the length of the shorter hose?
A. 6.1 m
B. 5.8 m
C. 5.1 m
D. 4.8 m

Answer 1

Let's denote the length of the shorter hose as \( x \) meters. Since the other hose is 30 centimeters (or 0.3 meters) longer, its length would be \( x + 0.3 \) meters.

According to the problem, the combined length of the two hoses is 9.9 meters:

\[
x + (x + 0.3) = 9.9
\]

This simplifies to:

\[
2x + 0.3 = 9.9
\]

Now, subtract 0.3 from both sides:

\[
2x = 9.9 - 0.3
\]
\[
2x = 9.6
\]

Now, divide both sides by 2:

\[
x = \frac{9.6}{2} = 4.8
\]

Thus, the length of the shorter hose is \( 4.8 \) meters.

So, the answer is **D. 4.8 m**.