A 40-inch board is to be cut into three pieces so that the second piece is 3 times as long as the first piece and the third piece is 4 times as long as the first piece. What is the length of the first piece?
x= 1st piece
3x = 2nd
4x = 3rd piece totalled, they equal 40 inches
x + 3x + 4x = 40
8x= 40
x=5 inches