Question

A triangle has a perimeter of 39 inches. The medium side is 4 more than the short side, and the longest side is 3times the length of the shortest side. Find the shortest side.The shortest side isinches.

Answer 1

Solution:

Let the longest side, medium side and shortest side be l, m, and s respectively. Thus;

$\begin{gathered} m=s+4 \\ \\ l=3s \end{gathered}$

Since the perimeter is 39 inches;

$\begin{gathered} l+m+s=39 \\ \\ 3s+s+4+s=39 \\ \\ 5s=39-4 \\ \\ 5s=35 \\ \\ s=\frac{35}{5} \\ \\ s=7 \end{gathered}$

Thus, the shortest side is 7 inches