document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=153707>Question 153707</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> I need help solving for variables in a word problem.  I am not very good at word problems could someone please walk me through this problem.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "     The perimeter of a quadrilateral (4 sided polygon) is 29 inches.  THe longest side is twice as long as the shortest side.  The other two sides are equally long and are 2 inches longer than the shortest side.  Find the length of all four sides.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Im not even sure how to pull an equation from this.  please help<BR>\n" );
document.write( "thank you </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #113143 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=nerdybill><B>nerdybill(7384)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=nerdybill><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=nerdybill><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=113143\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> The idea is to assign a variable to things you don't know.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "In this case, every side is related to the \"shortest side\".  So...<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Let x = length of the shortest side<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2x = length of longest side<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x+2 = length of the last two sides<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "The problem gives us the perimeter as 29 inches:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x + 2x + 2(x+2) = 29<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Now, we solve for x:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x + 2x + 2x + 4 = 29<BR>\n" );
document.write( "5x + 4 = 29<BR>\n" );
document.write( "5x = 25<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x = 5 inches (shortest side)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2x = 2(5) = 10 inches (longest side)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x+2 = 5+2 = 7 inches (the two remaining sides)<BR>\n" );
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