Answer:
Robert's piece of wire is 5 feet long
and Maria's piece of wires is 7 feet long
Step-by-step explanation:
Suppose x and y are Robert's and Maria's piece of wires respectively.
We can write following equation using this statement "Half of Robert's piece of wire is equal to ⅔ of Maria's wire".
[tex]\frac{1}{2} x = \frac{2}{3} y[/tex] --------------(1)
The total length of their wires is 12 feet.
[tex]x+y=12[/tex] ------------(2)
=> [tex]x=12-y[/tex]
Substitute x=12-y in equation (1)
[tex]\frac {1}{2} (12-y) = \frac{2}{3} y[/tex]
[tex]6-\frac{1}{2} y = \frac {2}{3} y[/tex]
[tex]6 = \frac {2} {3} y + \frac {1} {2} y[/tex]
[tex]y=7[/tex]
Put y=7 in equation (2)
[tex]x+7 = 12 \\x =5[/tex]