A 17 foot piece of string is cut into two pieces so that the longer piece is 5 feet longer than twice the shorter piece. If the shorter piece is x feet long, find the lengths of both pieces.

Shorter piece = 4 ft, longer piece = 13 ft

Step-by-step explanation:

If shorter piece is x

Longer pc is 2x + 5

Together they make 17 feet

So x + 2x + 5 = 17

3 x + 5 = 17

3x = 17 - 5 = 12

3x = 12

X = 12 / 3 = 4

So shorter pc is 4 feet

Longer pc is 2 x + 5

= (2 x 4) + 5

= 8 + 5 = 13