triangle has a perimeter of 24 5/8inches. what is the length of its third side 9 3/4 inches 7 1/3 inches

Question

what is the length of its third side 9 3/4 inches  7 1/3 inches what is the answer to this problem

Answer 1

Hello Richard,

 

Perimeter of any polygon is the sum of all the sides.  For a triangle:

 

P = side 1 + side 2 + side 3

 

For this problem in particular it will help to convert all of the fractions to have the same denominator (number in the bottom of the fraction).  For the values given, the common denominator for 8, 4 and 3 is 24, and from there make them into improper fractions for easy subtraction:

 

Perimeter = P = 24 5/8 = 24 15/24 =  591/24

side 1 =  9 3/4 = 9 18/24 = 234/24

side 2 = 7 1/3 = 7 8/24 = 176/24

 

Now that all of the fractions have the same common denominator, put them into the correct place in the equation below and solve:

 

P = side 1 + side 2 + side 3

 

591/24 = 234/24 + 176/24 + side 3

 

591/24 - 234/24 - 176/24 = side 3

 

181/24 = 7 13/24 inches = side 3

 

Hope this helps!

~kristy