16Hit1600
AlgebraMediumLength of a whole from the difference of two fractional pieces

Algebra practice question

A rope is cut into two pieces. One piece is three fifths of the whole rope and is 2.4 metres longer than the other piece. What is the length of the whole rope, in metres?

Answer: 12

The pieces are (3/5)L and (2/5)L, and their difference is (1/5)L = 2.4, so L = 12.

Common wrong answers

If you answered 4
4 is 2.4 ÷ 0.6, dividing the difference by 3/5.
If you answered 6
6 comes from (1/5)L = 2.4 solved as L = 2.4 × 2.5.
If you answered 7.2
7.2 is the longer piece.

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