Madam Siti bought the same lengths of red and yellow ribbons. After she used 836 cm of the red ribbon, the length of the yellow ribbon was 5 times the length of the remaining red ribbon. What was the original total length of the two ribbons?

Answer: 1045 cm of red ribbon and 1045 cm of yellow ribbon

Step-by-step explanation:

Let R represent the amount red ribbon and Y represent the amouont of yellow ribbon.

bought the same lengths of red and yellow: R = Y after used 286 of red, yellow is 5 times the remaining red; 5 (R - 836) = Y

Use substitution method to solve:

5 (R - 836) = R

5R - 4180 = R distributed 5 on the left side

4R - 4180 = 0 subtracted R from both sides

4R = 4180 added 4180 to both sides

R = 1045 divided both sides by 4