A string is cut in half, and one of the halves is used to bundle newspapers. Then one fifth of the remaining string is cut off. The piece left is 8 feet long. how long was the string originally.
well if you cut off 1/5 of 1/2, you removed 1/10, and you have 4/5 of 1/2 left, or 4/10 left.
If 4/10 is 8 feet, then
4/10 of Original=8
multiply both sides by 10/4
Original=80/4=20 feet