Question

The length of each side of an equilateral triangle is increased by 5 inches , so the perimeter is now 60 inches . Write and solve an equation to find the original length of each side of the equilateral triangle

Answer 1

15 inches

Explanation:

Call the original side length x

This makes the new length x+5

The perimeter is the sum of the length of the sides. So for the new shape this is 3(x+5)=60

This can be solved in the following way:

x+5=20

x=15

So the original side lengths were 15 inches.