Question

If two segments AB and CD are in the ratio 3:5 andCD is longer than AB by 28 cm, how long is each segment?

Answer 1

`abs(AB) = 42` `cm` and `abs(CD) = 70` `cm`

Lets say that the length of `AB` is `l` and the length of `CD` is `m`.

We know these:

`l/m=3/5`

`m = l+28`

So we can find the value of `l`

Lets replace `m` with `l+28` in the first equation.

`l/(l+28)=3/5`

`5l = 3*(l+28)`
`5l = 3l+84`
`2l = 84`
`l=42` `cm`

Now we know the value of `l`, we knew that `m=l+28` so:

`m = 42+28`
`m = 70` `cm`