Arope is divided into three pieces. one piece is 3 inches longer than the shortest piece and 5 inches shorter than the longest piece. if the total of the combined pieces is 92 inches, how long is each piece? show your work and explain how you got your

One piece is twenty seven inches long. The others are thirty inches, and thirty five inches. Let's say "A" is the shortest piece, and the base for the equation. The next piece is three inches longer, so we have A+3. The longest piece is five inches longer than the second, so we get A+3+5. To solve for "A" we have to simplify. A+(A+3)+(A+3+5)=3A+11. The total length is 92, so 3A+11=92. Subtract 11 from both sides to get "A" by itself: 3A+11+(-11)=92+(-11) to 3A=81. To solve divide both sides by 3: 3AĂ·3=81Ă·3 to A=27. (27)+3=30. (27)+3+5=35. To check, add the sums. 27+30+35=92 : that is a true statement.