SOLUTION: The side lengths in a triangle are three consecutive whole numbers. THe perimeter is 24. What is the length of each side?

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Question 27979: The side lengths in a triangle are three consecutive whole numbers. THe perimeter is 24. What is the length of each side?
Answer by akmb1215(68) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
If the sides of the triangle are three consecutive whole numbers, then you can name them with all one variable. For example, if the first side is n, then the next side is n+1, and the other side is n+2 (think about the numbers 5,6,7 to see how this would work). If the perimeter is 24, then you know that these three sides added together equal 24. The equation you need to solve is n%2Bn%2B1%2Bn%2B2+=+24. Add like terms to get 3n%2B3+=+24. Then get 3n+=+21. Then divide by 3 to get n+=+7. If 7 is n, then n+1=8, and n+2=9.