Go fly a kite!

Matthew’s kite string is three times as long as Joseph’s. If the strings were tied together, they would reach a tenth of a mile. How long is each? (1 mile = 5280 feet.)

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x = length of Joseph’s kite string
3x = length of Matthew’s kite string {Matthew’s kite string is three times as long as Joseph’s}

one tenth of a mile = 528 feet {divided 5280 by 10}

x + 3x = 528 {added the two strings together and set equal to 528}
4x = 528 {combined like terms}
​x =132 {divided each side by 4}
​3x = 396 {substituted 132, in for x, into 3x}

Joseph’s kite string is 132 feet
Matthew’s kite string is 396 feet

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