A 52 -inch pipe is cut into two pieces. One piece is three times the length of the other. Find the length of the shorter piece.

The length of the shorter piece is 13 inches

Step-by-step explanation:

Let's represent the longer piece of pipe with the variable L and the shorter piece of pipe with variable S.

Since the pipe is going to be the length of L and S together, we can make this equation:

L+S=52

Also we know that the longer piece is three times the shorter piece or

L=3S

Substitute the second equation into the first equation.

L+S=52

3S+S=52

4S=52

Divide both sides by 4

4S/4=52/4

S=13 inches

The length of the shorter piece is 13 inches ...

To find the length of longer piece, put the value S=13 in L=3S

L=3S

L=3 (13)

L=39 inches

The length of the longer piece is 39 inches ...