document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=596285>Question 596285</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> An isosceles triangle has a base length of 6m and a perimeter of 22m. Write an equation and solve it to find the length of the equal sides. Please show work I do not understand this problem. </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #377668 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=math-vortex><B>math-vortex(648)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-11.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=math-vortex><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=math-vortex><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=377668\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Hi, there!<BR>\n" );
document.write( ".<BR>\n" );
document.write( "We want to find the unknown side lengths of this triangle. To solve this problem, we need to use some definitions. Definitions are very important in mathematics.<BR>\n" );
document.write( ".<BR>\n" );
document.write( "An ISOSCELES triangle is a triangle that has two sides with equal length.<BR>\n" );
document.write( ".<BR>\n" );
document.write( "The PERIMETER of the triangle is the distance around the three sides of the triangle.<BR>\n" );
document.write( ".<BR>\n" );
document.write( "The BASE of the triangle can be any one of the three sides. Usually, it's the one drawn on the bottom.<BR>\n" );
document.write( ".<BR>\n" );
document.write( "I will solve this problem in words first. Then I'll show you how to write and solve an equation. <BR>\n" );
document.write( ".<BR>\n" );
document.write( "OK. We know that the base of the triangle is 6 meters (6m). We also know that the perimeter is 22 meters (22m). The difference between 22 and 6 is 22-6=16. So we have 16m left to divide between the other two sides.<BR>\n" );
document.write( ".<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Because this is an isosceles triangle, we know that the other two sides have the same length. We ask, \"What number times two equals 16?\" The answer is 8 because 16 divided by 2 is 8.<BR>\n" );
document.write( ".<BR>\n" );
document.write( "So the lengths of the two equal sides are 8 meters (8m).<BR>\n" );
document.write( ".<BR>\n" );
document.write( "To write an equation, we need a variable for the unknown side lengths. I'll use x, but you can use any variable you like.<BR>\n" );
document.write( ".<BR>\n" );
document.write( "We use the fact that the three sides add up to the perimeter, 22m. So the equation in words is\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "[perimeter] = [base length] + [side length] + [side length]<BR>\n" );
document.write( ".<BR>\n" );
document.write( "In algebra, we write the equation as<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=22=6%2Bx%2Bx ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"22=6%2Bx%2Bx\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( ".<BR>\n" );
document.write( "To solve the equation, we combine like terms first: x + x = 2x<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=22=6%2B2x%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"22=6%2B2x%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( ".<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Subtract 6 from both sides of the equation to get the 2x by itself.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=22-6=2x ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"22-6=2x\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=16=2x ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"16=2x\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( ".<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2 times x is 16. We want to know what x is, so we divide both sides by 2.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=8=x ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"8=x\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( ".<BR>\n" );
document.write( "By algebra, we see that the length of the equal sides are 8m.<BR>\n" );
document.write( ".<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Please email me, if you still have a question about this.<BR>\n" );
document.write( ".<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Good luck!<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Ms.Figgy<BR>\n" );
document.write( "math.in.the.vortex@gmail.com </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );