A piece of string is 40 centimeters long. It is cut into three pieces. The longest piece is 3 times as long as the middle-sized piece and the shortest piece is 23 centimeters shorter than the longest piece. Find the lengths of the three pieces.	Options: A) 27 B) 5 C) 4 D) 9 E) 8
Explanation :   Let the largest piece = 3x.   Middle = x.   Shortest = 3x – 23.   or 3x + x + (3x – 23) = 40.   or x = 9   or the shortest piece = 3(9) – 23 = 4   Check choices:   The shortest piece has to be &lt; 20 cm.   27 is wrong choice.   The largest piece is a multiple of 3.   Or (23 + Shortest) should be a multiple of 3.   Hence ,the answer = 4 cm.   Answer : 4
<result>C</result>
A piece of string is 40 centimeters long. It is cut into three pieces. The longest piece is 3 times as long as the middle-sized piece and the shortest piece is 23 centimeters shorter than the longest piece. Find the lengths of the three pieces.