A 136 -inch pipe is cut into two pieces. One piece is three times the length of the other. Find the length of the shorter piece.

x = the length per pipe

You have 3 as the coefficient to x because one of the pipes is three times larger than the other.

3x + x = 136

4x = 136

Divide by 4

4 : 4 = 1

136 : 4 = 34

x = 34

Now Substitute

3 (34) + 34 = 136

102 + 34 = 136

Final Answer

34 inches (in)