SOLUTION: the perimeter of an isosceles triangle is 72cm and the base is 4 cm shorter than the sum of the shorter sides what was the length of the base?

Question 702281: the perimeter of an isosceles triangle is 72cm and the base is 4 cm shorter than the sum of the shorter sides what was the length of the base?

Answer by neatmath(302) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!

An isosceles triangle has exactly two congruent sides.

Let a stand for the length of those two congruent sides.

Let b stand for the length of the base.

Then we have:

Eq 1: given, because the perimeter

Eq 2: given

So, let's begin:

simplifying Eq 2

Now substitute this value for b into Eq 1:

Now substitute this value for a into Eq 2:

So the length of the base of our triangle is 34 cm.

Check it, it works!

I hope this helps! Keep practicing! :)

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