Question

a triangle has a perimeter of 49 inches. the medium side is 7 more than the short side, and the longest side is 5 times the length of the shortest side. find the shortest side

Answer 1

shortest side=6 inches

Explanation:

Let the shortest side=x

then x+(x+7)+5x=49

7x=49-7=42

x=42/7=6

shortest side=6 inches

Answer 2

Short side length = x
Medium side = x + 7
Long side = 5x
Total 49, so
x + x + 7 + 5x = 49
If you combine like terms:
7x + 7 = 49
Subtract 7 from both sides
7x = 42
Divide both sides by 7
x = 6 inches