A board 84 cm long is cut into two pieces so that one piece is 12 cm longer than the other. Find the length of each piece.

So one is 48 cm and the other is 36 cm

I know a quick way to do this

12/2=6

84/2=42

42+6=48

42-6=36

36+48=84

48-36=12

Happy -- that's a really neat way to do it!

Can you explain what you did and why it works so the process can be applied to other problems?

Thanks Geno...and sorry, you might get it but to others it might look like scrambled numbers.

I will first divide 12 by 2.  It will come in handy later!

12/2=6

Now we must divide the board length by 2

84/2=42

This is where the first part comes in handy.  We must now add and subtract 6 to 42

42+6=48

42-6=36

Just to check our work, lets add and subtract the two numbers 48 and 36.  Adding will show the board length.  If it is 84, it will be accurate.

48+36=84

Correct board length

Subtracting is the difference of the lengths

48-36=12

Correct

So I am correct

The lengths of the pieces will be 48 cm and 36 cm

Does this look better and explain in a more vivid way Geno?