The perimeter of the triangle is 41 cm. One side of the triangle is 5 cm shorter than the second
The perimeter of the triangle is 41 cm. One side of the triangle is 5 cm shorter than the second, and the third side is twice as long as the first. Find the sides of this triangle.
In order to find the lengths of the sides of a triangle, you and I must compose and solve a linear equation.
So, the condition says that the perimeter of the triangle is 41 cm. It is also known that one of the sides of the triangle is 5 cm shorter than the second, and the third side is 2 times longer than the first.
Let’s denote by x cm the length of one of the sides, then the length of the second is (x + 5) cm, and the length of the third is 2x cm.
We get the equation:
x + (x + 5) + 2x = 41;
x + x + 5 + 2x = 41;
x (1 + 1 + 2) = 41 – 5;
4x = 36;
x = 36: 4;
x = 9 cm first side, 9 + 5 = 14 cm second side and 9 * 2 = 18 cm third side.