What does x equal?
2x + 5x – 4= 17

x = 3

Step-by-step explanation:

2x + 5x - 4 = 17

Combine like terms

7x - 4 = 17

Add 4 to both sides

7x = 21

Solve for x

x = 21/7

x = 3

Hope this helps!

Love you.

- doomdabomb

Best answer that i found on yahoo ok   set :   x= length of 2nd piece in cm  x- 3= length of 1st piece in cm  x-4= length of 3rd piece in cm  then since you know they all came from the 20 cm ribbon you add them together and set them equal to 20x+ x-3 +x-4 = 20  3x - 7= 20  3x= 27  x= 9  the shortest piece is the third piece which is x- 4  x-4  9-4 = 5  the length of the smallest piece is 5 cm.  the other lengths are  9 cm  6 cm

21/2 or 5/2