SOLUTION: A certain triangle has a perimeter of 3086 mi. The shortest side measures 71 mi less than the middle​ side, and the longest side measures 379 mi more than the middle side. Fi

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Question 1118717: A certain triangle has a perimeter of 3086 mi. The shortest side measures 71 mi less than the middle​ side, and the longest side measures 379 mi more than the middle side. Find the lengths of the three sides.
Answer by greenestamps(13200) About Me  (Show Source):
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The lengths of the shortest and longest sides are given in terms of the length of the middle side; so logically we should use our variable x as the length of the middle side.

x = length of middle side
x-71 = length of shortest side
x+379 = length of longest side

To find x, the length of the middle side, write and solve the simple equation that says the perimeter (sum of the lengths of the three sides) is 3086. Then use that value and the definitions above to find the lengths of the other sides.