SOLUTION: the expressions 5x+13 and 10x-7 represent the lengths (in inches) of two sides of an equilateral octagon. find the length of a side of the octagon

Question 240478: the expressions 5x+13 and 10x-7 represent the lengths (in inches) of two sides of an equilateral octagon. find the length of a side of the octagon
Found 2 solutions by jim_thompson5910, solver91311:
Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Hint: Since we're given an "equilateral octagon", this means that all of the sides are of equal length. So . Simply solve this equation for 'x' to find the side lengths.
Answer by solver91311(24713) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!

If the octagon is equilateral, a word literally meaning "equal sided," then any two sides of the octagon are equal to each other. Specifically, the side labeled and the side labeled are equal to each other.

That means that

Just solve for and then plug that value back into either of the expressions used to label the sides. Do the arithmetic. That's your answer. Plug the value of into the other expression and do the arithmetic to check your work.

John

RELATED QUESTIONS
The lengths of two sides of an equilateral triangle in terms of x are (5x+30) and (8x... (answered by josgarithmetic)
The lengths (in inches) of two sides of a regular pentagon are represented by the... (answered by mananth)
3) The lengths of the sides of an irregular octagon are measured in metres and are given... (answered by Fombitz)
The perimeter of an equilateral octagon is 42 cm. Find the length of each... (answered by edjones)
The lengths (in inches) of two sides of a regular pentagon are represented by the... (answered by jim_thompson5910)
Consider a regular octagon with an apothem of length a = 9.2 in. and each side of... (answered by ikleyn)
The lengths (in inches) of two sides of a regular octagon are represented by the... (answered by richwmiller)
The lengths (in inches) of two sides of a regular pentagon are represented by the... (answered by chessace)
Two sides of an isosceles triangle have lengths of 2 inches and 5 inches, respectively.... (answered by macston)