7x+2y=24
8x+2y=30 solving using elimination

X=6 and y=-9. Also, elimination is just a type of process to solve for either the variable x and y

If solving for x                                           If solving for y

X=24/7-2y/7                                             Y=24/2-7x/2

X=30/8-2y/8                                             Y=15-4x

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