SOLUTION: One side of a triangle is half the longest side. The third side is 8 meters less than the longest side. The perimeter is 42 meters. Find all three sides. (Enter your answers from s

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Question 418733: One side of a triangle is half the longest side. The third side is 8 meters less than the longest side. The perimeter is 42 meters. Find all three sides. (Enter your answers from smallest to largest.)
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Can you show me each step to get the answer?
Found 2 solutions by ewatrrr, MRperkins:
Answer by ewatrrr(24785) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!


Hi

One side of a triangle is half the longest side. The third side is 8m less than the longest side

Let x,x/2 and (x-8m) represent these sides

Question states***

 x + x/2 + (x-8m) = 42m

Solving for x

      5/2x = 50m

         x = 20m, the longest side. The other two are 10m and 12m

 Three sides are: 10m,12m and 20m

CHECKING our Answer***

 10m + 12m + 20m = 42m

Answer by MRperkins(300) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
I am currently answering problems at: http://vyew.com/room#/365877/algebra.com
or you can email me at justin.sheppard.tech at hotmail.com.
Let the longest side be x (we need to label it so we have somewhere to start). Then the other sides are 8 less than x or just x-8 and half of x or 1/2 x
so we have 3 sides, x, 1/2 x and x-8. The perimeter is the distance around the triangle or the sum of the 3 sides and we are told that it is 42 meters.
Therefore, x%2B%281%2F2x%29%2B%28x-8%29=42
Combine your x and you get 2.5x-8=42
Add 8 to both sides and you get 2.5x=50 and x=20 meters
then plug in x to find out the side lengths.