Answer:
The answer to your question is: x = 57/5 and y = 13/5
Step-by-step explanation:
Data
x = longer piece = 1 foot less than four times of the smaller piece
y = smaller piece
Equations
x - 1 = 4y (1)
x + y = 14 (2) Clear y from the first equation
y = (x - 1) / 4 solve by substitution in 2
x + (x - 1) / 4 = 14
4x + x - 1 = 56
5x = 57
x = 57 / 5 feet
y = (57/5 - 1 ) / 4
y = ((57-5)/5)/4
y = 52/2 = 26/10 = 13/5