Question

850' of #2 wire is sent to your job. On Monday, you cut 3 pieces, each 175' long. On Tuesday, you cut 3 pieces, each 88' long, and 3 pieces, each 20' long. How much wire is left on the reel?

Answer 1

The remaining wire (W) is just the original wire (850') minus the cut wire on Monday, Tuesday...

$W=850^{\prime}-3\cdot175^{\prime}-3\cdot88^{\prime}-3\cdot20^{\prime}=1^{\prime}$

There is merely 1' of wire in the reel.