Question

The perimeter of an isosceles triangle is 62 cm. the equal sides are four less than the base. determine the length of each side of the triangle

Answer 1

X + 2(x - 4) = 62
x + 2x - 8 = 62
3x - 8 = 62
3x = 70
x = 23 1/3 cm

Answer 2

To start, keep in mind that every isosceles triangle has two sides that are equal, and given that the equal sides are 4 less than the base, let the base be represented as the value of x and the two equal sides be represented by the expression x-4. 

Then, since perimeter is the sum of all the sides, and you already know your perimeter is 62 cm, you can set up an equation that looks like this:
x+(x-4)+(x-4)=62

Then, when you combine your like terms:
3x-8=62

Add -8 to both sides:
3x=70

And you get that the value of x or the base is 70/3.

Then, since you must find the lengths of the two equal sides, subtract 4 from 70/3 and you get that the two equal sides are 58/3 cm. Then, convert the improper fraction to a mixed fraction to get your answer as:

The lengths of the triangles are 23 1/3 by 19 1/3 by 19 1/3 cm