document.write( "Question 1118648: A triangle has a perimeter of 161m. If the second side length is 5m longer than than the first side and the third side is 3m shorter than the first side, what are the three side lengths? Include a labelled diagram. \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #734022 by greenestamps(13200) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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\n" ); document.write( "Since the lengths of the second and third sides are defined in terms of the length of the first side, it makes sense to make the length of the first side our variable. Then

\n" ); document.write( "x = length of 1st side
\n" ); document.write( "x+5 = length of 2nd side
\n" ); document.write( "x-3 = length of 3rd side

\n" ); document.write( "Since the perimeter is 161,

\n" ); document.write( " $\"x%2B%28x%2B5%29%2B%28x-3%29+=+161\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"3x%2B2+=+161\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"3x+=+159\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"x+=+53\"$

\n" ); document.write( "The three side lengths are

\n" ); document.write( "x = 53
\n" ); document.write( "x+5 = 58
\n" ); document.write( "x-3 = 50 \n" ); document.write( "

\n" );