A rope 40 feet long is cut into two pieces. If one piece is

Question

A rope 40 feet long is cut into two pieces. If one piece is 18 feet longer than the other, what is the length, in feet, of the shorter piece?

(A) 9
(B) 11
(C) 18
(D) 22
(E) 29

BrentGMATPrepNow · Accepted Answer

APPROACH #1 : Algebra
Let x = the length of the shorter piece
So, x + 18 = the length of the longer piece

Since the lengths of the two pieces must add to 40 feet, we can write: x + (x + 18) = 40
Simplify: 2x + 18 = 40
Subtract 18 from both sides: : 2x = 22
Solve: x = 11

Answer: B
------------------------------------------

APPROACH #2 : Test the answer choices

Start with the middle answer choice C

C) 18
If the shorter piece is 18 feet long, then the longer piece is 36 feet long
Sum of lengths = 18 + 36 = 54
NO GOOD. We want a sum of 40 feet (as per the question)
So, we can ELIMINATE C. 
Also, since we need the two pieces to be SHORTER, we can also ELIMINATE D and E

Now try answer choice B
B) 11
If the shorter piece is 11 feet long, then the longer piece is 29 feet long
Sum of lengths = 11 + 29 = 40
PERFECT!!!

Answer: B

Cheers, 
Brent

Bunuel · Answer

SOLUTION:

A rope 40 feet long is cut into two pieces. If one piece is 18 feet longer than the other, what is the length, in feet, of the shorter piece?

(A) 9
(B) 11
(C) 18
(D) 22
(E) 29

Say the length of the shorter piece is  x  feet, then the length of the longer piece would be  x+18  feet. Since the length of the rope is 40 feet, then  x+(x+18)=40  -->  x=11 .

Answer: B.

rajathpanta · Answer

Let x be the length of the shorter one.
The longer one will be x+18
Therefore, x+x+18=40..> x=11

rpm · Answer

x+x+18 = 40.
So x=11 feet.

Ousmane · Answer

Or
(40-s)-s = 18
s = 11
Brother Karamazov

mbaiseasy · Answer

Let s be the shorter piece 
 Let the longer piece be s + 18

s + s + 18 = 40 
 2s + 18 = 40 
 2s = 40 - 18 = 22 
 s = 11

Answer: B

jatinsachani · Answer

A rope 40 feet long is cut into two pieces. If one piece is 18 feet longer than the other, what is the length, in feet, of the shorter piece?

(A) 9
(B) 11
(C) 18
(D) 22
(E) 29

Solution:

Since, 40 is the total length. Smaller is any one from answers.
Try Back solving from Middle answer, i.e. 18. 18+(18+11) = 47 > 40
Hence, Select next smaller no. : 11 +(11+18) =40. So, 11 is the answer

sparkles3144 · Answer

Longer piece: x+18
Shorter piece: x

x+18 + x = 40
2x+18 = 40
x = 11

luckyme17187 · Answer

let one piece be x feet long then the other piece will be x+18 .

total =40

x+x+18 = 40 
2x=22
x=11.

havoc7860 · Answer

Here's another solution hope it helps.

Let x be the length of the longer piece. Therefore (40-x) is the length of the shorter piece.

Also given that the longer piece is 18 feet greater than the shorter one

--> x=(40-x) +18
--> 2x=58
--> x =29

Therefore shorter piece = 40-29 =11
there's you answer

AnsQ · Answer

I eliminated immediatly answers D & E since they're impossible, any smaller lenght can't be larger than half the rope.
Then I took the middle choice/value of the three (A,B,C) left (So B) if the side is elven does that match. Even if it doesn't match you get the answer right away since it then must be either bigger or smaller than the number you plug in, which is exactly what options A and C are. In this case option B matched.

PareshGmat · Answer

Twice of the "correct OA" + 18 = 40 should be the length of the shorter piece

Options C, D, E can be ignored as they compute > 40

Only 11 fits in

Answer = B

JeffTargetTestPrep · Answer

To solve this problem, we start by setting up two variables for the lengths of the long and short pieces of rope.

L = the length of the longer piece of rope

S = the length of the shorter piece of rope

We are given that the rope is 40 feet long. Translating this into an equation we have:

L + S = 40

Next we are given that one piece is 18 feet longer than the other. Translating this into an equation we have:

L = 18 + S

We can now substitute 18 + S from the second equation for L in the first equation. We have:

18 + S + S = 40

2S = 22

S = 11

The shorter piece of rope is 11 feet.

The answer is B.

Divyadisha · Answer

x+x+18= 40
2x= 22
x= 11

B is the answer

kunmibode · Answer

A rope 40 feet long is cut into two pieces. If one piece is 18 feet longer than the other, what is the length, in feet, of the shorter piece?

(A) 9
(B) 11
(C) 18
(D) 22
(E) 29

Answer:
The first rope cut = x, and the second rope cut = x+18, 
x+(x+18) =40
2x = 40 - 18
2x =22
x=11
Answer = 11
B

Kinshook · Answer

A rope 40 feet long is cut into two pieces. If one piece is 18 feet longer than the other, what is the length, in feet, of the shorter piece?
l + s = 40
l - s = 18
s = (40 - 18)/2 = 22/2 = 11 feet

IMO B

Abhishek009 · Answer

a + 18 + a = 40

2a = 22

So,  a = 11  , Answer must be (B)

bumpbot · Answer

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