SOLUTION: Each of two congruent sides of an isosceles traingle is 8 in. less than twice the base. The perimeter of the triangle is 74 in. What is the length of the base?

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Question 108302: Each of two congruent sides of an isosceles traingle is 8 in. less than twice the base. The perimeter of the triangle is 74 in. What is the length of the base?
Answer by wgunther(43) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let s be the length of the congruent side of the isosceles triangle and b the the length of the base. Then, since the parameter is 74
%0D%0A2s%2Bb=74%0D%0A
and we know also that
%0D%0As=2b-8%0D%0A
Solve this set of equations. We can subsitute the second equation into the first
%0D%0A2%2A%282b-8%29%2Bb=74%0D%0A
%0D%0A4b-16%2Bb=74%0D%0A
5b=90
b=18