Question

If a 54 ft rope is cut into two sections with one section 8 times as long as the other section, how long is the shorter piece?

Answer 1

7x+x=32

8x=32

x=4ft

   - hope that this is right .

Answer 2

let x be the longer part and y be the shorter part

x+y= 54

x=8y

8y+y=54

9y=54

y=6

x=48

so the shorter part is 6ft