27 piece of steel is cut into three pieces so that the second piece is twice as long as the first piece and the third piece is 1 inch more than five times the length of the first piece. find the length of pieces

first piece: 3.25 inches

second piece: 6.5 inches

third piece: 17.25 inches

Step-by-step explanation:

a + b + c = 27

b = 2a

c = 5a + 1

a = first piece length

b = second piece length

c = third piece length

then:

a + 2a + (5a+1) = 27

8a + 1 = 27

8a = 27-1

8a = 26

a = 26/8

a = 3.25 in

b = 2a

b = 2*3.25

b = 6.5 in

c = 5a+1

c = 5*3.25  +  1

c = 16.25 + 1

c = 17.25 in

Check:

3.25 + 6.5 + 17.25 = 27