Question 121608
In a triangle whose perimeter is 40 cm, 
the length of the longest side is four cm less than the sum of th lengths of the other sides. 
The length of the shortest side is four cm more than the difference between the lengths of the other sides. 
What is the length of the longest side?
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Let the sides be x,y,z; x be the shortest, z be the longest.
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x+y+z = 40 cm
z = (x+y)-4
x = 2(z-y)
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Rearrange:
x+y+z = 40
x+y-z = 4
x+2y-2z=0
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Using the Matrix function of a TI caluculator I get:
x = 8 (shortest)
y = 14
z = 18 (longest)
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Cheers,
Stan H.