Question

The longest side of a triangle is 5 in longer than the shortest side. The medium side is 4 in longer than the shortest side. If the perimeter of the triangle is 27 in, what are the lengths of the three sides?

Answer 1

Answer: Shortest side = 6 inches, Medium side = 10 inches and Longest side = 11 inches

Step-by-step explanation: The perimeter has been given as 27 inches, and we know that the perimeter of any given figure is the addition of all sides. The sides are unknown yet, but we have clues as follows;

The longest side is 5 inches longer than the shortest side, hence the longest side equals s + 5. The medium side is 4 inches longer than the shortest side, hence the medium side equals s+ 4. Th shortest side remains s.

Therefore with the perimeter given as 27, we now have the expression;

s + s + 4 + s + 5 = 27

3s + 9 = 27

Subtract 9 from both sides of the equation

3s = 18

Divide both sides of the equation by 3

s = 6

Hence, the sides of the triangle are given as 6, (6+ 4) and (6+ 5), which is,

6 inches, 10 inches and 11 inches.