five step to solving   A 40 foot beam is to be cut in two.  If  one portion is one third the length of the other position, what are the two lenghts of the portions?

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Portion 1 is xPortion 2 is (1/3)xx+(1/3)x=40(4/3)x=40Multiply both sides by (3/4) and get x=30So Portion 1 is 30 feet long & portion 2 is (1/3) of 30 or 10 feet long.

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