Answer:
1st piece = 4 ft
2nd piece = 4 ft
3rd piece = 8 ft
Step-by-step explanation:
Let 3rd piece's length be "x"
Each of the two remaining pieces will be 4 feet shorter, so each other piece would be:
x - 4
and
x - 4
Since sum of all 3 pieces is 16, we can write:
1st piece + 2nd piece + 3rd piece = 16
x - 4 + x - 4 + x = 16
3x - 8 = 16
3x = 24
x = 24/3
x = 8
Third piece is 8 feet and each remaining piece is 8 - 4 = 4 feet and 4 feet
1st piece = 4 ft
2nd piece = 4 ft
3rd piece = 8 ft