Two sides of a triangle have the same length. The third side measures 6 m less than common length. The perimeter of the triangle is 22 m. What are the leng

Question

Two sides of a triangle have the same length. The third side measures 6 m less than common length. The perimeter of the triangle is 22 m. What are the length of the three sides?

Answer 1

If the common length is x then the leg lengths are

x, x, x-6

 

The perimeter, being the distance around the outside,

is the sum of the leg lengths:

 

x + x + x-6 = 22

3x-6 = 22

add 6 to both sides

3x = 28

divide both sides by 3

x = 9 1/3 m

x-6 = 3 1/3 m

 

Two sides are 9 1/3 m long

The other is 3 1/3 m long

 

Check:  (9 1/3)+(9 1/3)+(3 1/3)

            = 21 3/3 = 22 m