a student needs 3 pieces of wire for a science project. the second piece must be 3 times as long as the first. the third piece must be twice as long as the second. the student has 350 inches of wire to make the three pieces. let x be the length of the first wire.
a.) write an *inequality* that models the situation.
b.) what are the possible lengths of the shortest piece of wire?

Part a) The inequality that represent the situation is

Part b) The possible lengths of the shortest piece of wire are all positive real numbers less than or equal to

Step-by-step explanation:

Let

x------> the length of the first wire

3x---> the length of the second wire

2(3x)=6x -----> the length of the third wire

Part a) WRITE AN *INEQUALITY* THAT MODELS THE SITUATION

we know that

The inequality that represent the situation is

Part b) WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE LENGTHS OF THE SHORTEST PIECE OF WIRE?

we know that

The shortest piece of wire is the first wire

so

Solve the inequality

The possible lengths of the shortest piece of wire are all positive real numbers less than or equal to

the direct variation says that:

then the equation is of the form is given by:

            where k is the constant variation.

from the given table:

consider any value of x and m(x)=y

x = 2 and m(x)=y = 3

substitute these value in [1]; we have;

divide both sides by 2 we get;

⇒

check:

put x = -1 and m(x) = -1.5

substitute in the equation:

-1.5 = -1.5                   true

therefore, the function m(x) represents a direct variation

graph of this function as shown below:

$12. that is my answer.