What os the length of each side?

Question

the perimeter of a pentagon is 17. 3 sides are of a smaller length, and the other 2 sides of a greater length. the sum of a long side and a short side is 7. What is the length of each side?

Answer 1

Let x = the length of a shorter side

Let y = the length of a longer side

x + y = 7       x = 7 - y

P = 3x + 2y = 17

3(7 - y) + 2y = 17

21 - 3y + 2y = 17

-y = -4

y = 4

x = 7 - y = 7 - 4 = 3