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Question

The perimeter of a triangle is 73 cm. The longest side is 7 cm less than the sum of the other two sides. Twice the shortest side is 5 cm less than the longest side. Find the length of each side of the triangle.

Answer 1

People have been finding that Algebra is a great help in problems of this kind, for several centuries.

Let longest side length be L, and let the other sides be A & B, for lengths; assume A is the shortest side.

 

A+B+L = 72 (perimeter fact)

L = A+B - 7 (longest side fact)

2A = L - 5 (shortest side fact)

 

You now have three equations, in three unknowns. Solve this system! Check answers.