Question 192336
The first side of the triangle must be 8 feet shorter than the second side. the third side must be 4 times as long as the first side. Find the length of each side of the triangle if the perimeter is 26.
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Let x = length of second side
then because "first side of the triangle must be 8 feet shorter than the second side" we get
x-8 = length of first side
and from "third side must be 4 times as long as the first side" we get
3(x-8) = length  of third side
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And, because the perimeter is 26:
26 = x + x-8 + 3(x-8)
26 = x + x-8 + 3x - 24
26 = 5x - 32
58 = 5x
11.6 feet  = x (second side)
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First side:
x-8 = 11.6-8 = 3.6 feet (first side)
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Third side:
3(x-8) = 3(11.6-8) = 3(3.6) =  10.8 feet (third side)