document.write( "Question 521629: in triangle ABC, line AB is 9 cm shorter than line AC, while line BC is 3 cm longer than line AC. If the perimeter of the triangle is 48 cm, find the lenghts of the 3 sides. \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #346552 by jlshires(17)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Since all the sides are being compared to AC, AC is your x.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Let AC = x
\n" ); document.write( "Let AB = 9 cm shorter than AC = x-9
\n" ); document.write( "Let BC = 3 cm longer than AC = x+3\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "The perimeter of a triangle is all of the sides added, therefore AC + AB + BC
\n" ); document.write( "the perimeter is 48\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "AC + AB + BC = 48 substitute in your formulas for the sides
\n" ); document.write( "x + (x-9) + (x+3) = 48\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "factor out the addition signs to get rid of the parentheses\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "x+x-9+x+3=48\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "combine like symbols\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "3x - 6 = 48\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "add 6 to both sides\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "3x = 54\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "divide both sides by 3\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "x = 18\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Put 18 back into your original formulas to find out the lengths of all three sides:\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Let AC = x = 18
\n" ); document.write( "Let AB = 9 cm shorter than AC = x-9 = 18-9 = 9
\n" ); document.write( "Let BC = 3 cm longer than AC = x+3 = 18+3 = 21\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "the sides are 18, 9, and 21
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" );