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Algebra / Systems of two linear equations in two variables Difficulty: Medium

A wire with a length of $106$ inches is cut into two parts. One part has a length of $x$ inches, and the other part has a length of $y$ inches. The value of $x$ is $6$ more than $4$ times the value of $y$ . What is the value of $x$ ?

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Explanation

Choice D is correct. It's given that a wire with a length of $106$ inches is cut into two parts. It's also given that one part has a length of $x$ inches and the other part has a length of $y$ inches. This can be represented by the equation $x + y = 106$ . It's also given that the value of $x$ is $6$ more than $4$ times the value of $y$ . This can be represented by the equation $x = 4 y + 6$ . Substituting $4 y plus 6$ for $x$ in the equation $x + y = 106$ yields $4 y + 6 + y = 106$ , or $5 y + 6 = 106$ . Subtracting $6$ from each side of this equation yields $5 y equals 100$ . Dividing each side of this equation by $5$ yields $y equals 20$ . Substituting $20$ for $y$ in the equation $x = 4 y + 6$ yields $x = 4 (20) + 6$ , or $x equals 86$ .

Choice A is incorrect. This value represents less than half of the total length of $106$ inches; however, $x$ represents the length of the longer part of the wire, since it's given that the value of $x$ is $6$ more than $4$ times the value of $y$ .

Choice B is incorrect. This value represents less than half of the total length of $106$ inches; however, $x$ represents the length of the longer part of the wire, since it's given that the value of $x$ is $6$ more than $4$ times the value of $y$ .

Choice C is incorrect. This represents a part that is $6$ more than the length of the other part, rather than $6$ more than $4$ times the length of the other part.