Question

The length of each leg of an isosceles triangle is 4cm less than twice the base. The perimeter of the triangle is 17 cm. Find the measure of each side of the triangle.

Answer 1

The base = 5, The legs are 6 each.

Explanation:

Let the Base=x, Let the legs = (2x-4)

Perimeter = sum of all the sides = x + (2x-4) + (2x-4) = 5x-8 when you combine the like terms.

You know that the Perimeter = 17 cm. So, 17=5x-8.

Now you can solve for x. Once you do that, you can put your value of x into the leg equations.

17=5x-8

17+8=5x-8+8

25=5x

x=5

The Base is x=5 cm long, The Legs are each 2x-4=2(5)-4=10-4=6 cm long.

The Perimeter is x + (2x-4) + (2x-4) = 5 + 6 + 6 = 17.