Solve the system using the substitution method
equation 1: 2x+5y =7
equation 2: x+4y= 2
provide details to solve the equation

First get x by itself. So subtract 4y and subtract it from 2 so it's x=2-4y. Then plug in the equation into the top equation. 2(2-4y)+5y=7. Distribute the 2 and solve normally. Y=-1. Then plug that into any equation to get what x equals. So x+4(-1)=2. X=6

Best answer that i found on yahoo ok   set :   x= length of 2nd piece in cm  x- 3= length of 1st piece in cm  x-4= length of 3rd piece in cm  then since you know they all came from the 20 cm ribbon you add them together and set them equal to 20x+ x-3 +x-4 = 20  3x - 7= 20  3x= 27  x= 9  the shortest piece is the third piece which is x- 4  x-4  9-4 = 5  the length of the smallest piece is 5 cm.  the other lengths are  9 cm  6 cm