SOLUTION: the sides of a triangle are in the ratio 2:7:10. Find the shortest side if the perimeter is 57

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Question 209987: the sides of a triangle are in the ratio 2:7:10. Find the shortest side if the perimeter is 57
Answer by Earlsdon(6294) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Since you all you know are the ratios of the three sides (2:7:10), then you have to assume that the three given ratios are multiples of some unknown quantity that we can call x. So you can express the sides as 2x, 7x, and 10x and their sum (the perimeter) is 57.
2x+7x+10x = 57 Combine the like-terms.
19x = 57 Divide both sides by 19.
x = 3
So the sides are:
2x = 6
7x = 21
10x = 30
The shortest side is 6.