document.write( "Question 449650: A leather coin purse has the shape of a triangle. Two sides are equal in length and the third side is 3 centimeters shorter than one and one-half times the length of the equal sides. The perimeter is 28.5 centimeters. Find the length of the sides. \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #309363 by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740)\"\" \"About 
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A leather coin purse has the shape of a triangle.
\n" ); document.write( " Two sides are equal in length and the third side is 3 centimeters shorter than
\n" ); document.write( " one and one-half times the length of the equal sides.
\n" ); document.write( ":
\n" ); document.write( "Let x = length of the equal sides
\n" ); document.write( "then, it says,
\n" ); document.write( "\"third side is 3 centimeters shorter than one and one-half times the length of the equal sides.\" therefore
\n" ); document.write( "(1.5x - 3) = the 3rd side
\n" ); document.write( ":
\n" ); document.write( " The perimeter is 28.5 centimeters. Find the length of the sides.
\n" ); document.write( "2x + (1.5x-3) = 28.5
\n" ); document.write( "3.5x = 28.5 + 3
\n" ); document.write( "3.5x = 31.5
\n" ); document.write( "x = \"31.5%2F3.5\"
\n" ); document.write( "x = 9 cm the length of the equal sides
\n" ); document.write( "then
\n" ); document.write( "1.5(9) - 3 =
\n" ); document.write( "13.5 - 3 = 10.5 cm is the length of the 3rd side
\n" ); document.write( ":
\n" ); document.write( ":
\n" ); document.write( "Check using the perimeter
\n" ); document.write( "9 + 9 + 10.5 = 28.5 \n" ); document.write( "
\n" );