A pipe is 42 inches long. It is to be cut into three pieces such that the longest is four times as long as the shortest and the middle-size piece is six inches longer than the shortest. How long is the middle-sized piece?

Answer 1

Let x = the shortest.

4x + x + x + 6 = 42

6x = 42 - 6

6x = 36

x = 6

The middle size piece is 12 inches long.