SOLUTION: Please help me find the measures of the sides of the triangle: The ratio of the measures of three sides of a triangle are 1/2:1/3:1/5, and its perimeter is 6.2 centimeters.

Algebra ->  Proportions  -> Lessons -> SOLUTION: Please help me find the measures of the sides of the triangle: The ratio of the measures of three sides of a triangle are 1/2:1/3:1/5, and its perimeter is 6.2 centimeters.      Log On


   

Question 66255: Please help me find the measures of the sides of the triangle: The ratio of the measures of three sides of a triangle are 1/2:1/3:1/5, and its perimeter is 6.2 centimeters.
Found 2 solutions by checkley71, Earlsdon:
Answer by checkley71(8403) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
X/2+X/3+X/5=6.2 FIND A COMMON DENOMINATOR (30)
(15X+10X+6X)/30=6.2
31X/30=6.2
31X=186
X=186/31
X=6
1/2*6=3 ONE SIDE
1/3*6=2 SECOND SIDE
1/5*6=6/5=1.2 THIRD SIDE
PROOF
3+2+1.2=6.2
6.2=6.2

Answer by Earlsdon(6294) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Since you know the ratio of the three sides of the triangle ((1/2):(1/3):(1/5)) you then need to find a common multiplier so that when multiply each of these ratios and add the results, you will get the perimeter of 6.2
Let's call this common multiplier, x.
%281%2F2%29x+%2B+%281%2F3%29x+%2B+%281%2F5%29x+=+6.2 Simplify this and solve for x. Multiply through by the LCD of 30.
30%28%281%2F2%29x%2B%281%2F3%29x%2B%281%2F5%29x%29+=+30%286.2%29 Simplify this.
15x%2B10x%2B6x+=+186
31x+=+186 Divide both sides by 31.
x+=+6
So the measures of the three sides are:
%281%2F2%29x+=+%281%2F2%296 = 3
%281%2F3%29x+=+%281%2F3%296 = 2
%281%2F5%29x+=+%281%2F5%296 = 1.2
Check:
3%2B2%2B1.2+=+6.2