A child has a stick of length 17 cm. He cuts the stick into two parts. One part is 7 cm longer than the other. What are the lengths of the two parts?

Step-by-step solution

1. Let the shorter part be $x$ cm; the longer part is $x+7$ cm.
2. Total length is $x+(x+7)=17$ cm, so $2x+7=17$.
3. Subtract 7 to get $2x=10$.
4. Divide by 2 to find $x=5$ cm.
5. Therefore the longer part is $5+7=12$ cm.

Concept tested: Solving simple equations

Published 4 October 2026 · How this solution was prepared and checked