Question

The second side of a triangular deck is 6 feet longer than the shortest side and a third side that is 6 feet shorter than twice the length of the shortest side. If the perimeter of the deck is 56 ​feet, what are the lengths of the three​ sides?

Answer 1

• 14 ft
• 20 ft
• 22 ft

Explanation:

Let s represent the length of the shortest side. Then the other two sides are ...

• s +6
• 2s -6

The perimeter is the sum of the lengths of the three sides, so is ...

56 ft = s + (s+6) + (2s-6) = 4s . . . . collect terms

14 ft = s . . . . . . . divide by the coefficient of s

The shortest side is 14 ft; the second side is 20 ft; the third side is 22 ft.