A 12ft. board is cut into two pieces so that one piece is 8 ft. longer than 3 times the shorter piece. If the shorter piece is x feet long, find the lengths of both pieces

Answer 1

x feet = short piece.
12-x = long piece.
3x+8 = 12-x
Solve for x.

Answer 2

x + (8 + 3x) = 12

4x + 8 = 12
4x + 8 - 8 = 12 - 8
4x = 4
x = 1

One piece is 1 foot long
The other piece is 11 feet long

Does that make sense?

(3 * 1) + 8 = 11