An electrician cuts a 136 foot long piece of cable. one piece is 16 feet less than 3 times the length of the other piece. find the length of each piece

98 ft  and   38 ft

Step-by-step explanation:

We know that the initial length of the piece is  136 feet

Then the piece is cut into two pieces.

Let's call x the length of the first piece  of cable and call z the length of the second piece of cable.

So we know that

and

Now we substitute the second equation in the first one and solve for the variable z

Now we find the length x

Let the cost of a chicken be x and the cost of a duck, y, then

50x + 30y = 550 . . . (1)
44x + 36y = 532 . . . (2)

(1) x 6 ⇒ 300x + 180y = 3,300 . . . (3)
(2) x 5 ⇒ 220x + 180y = 2,660 . . . (4)

(3) - (4) ⇒ 80x = 640
⇒ x = 640 / 80 = 8

From (1): 50(8) + 30y = 550
⇒ 30y = 550 - 400 = 150
⇒ y = 150 / 30 = 5

Therefore, the price of a chicken is $8 and the price of a duck is $5.