Question

The legs of an iscosceles triangle have lengths 3x-1 and -x +27. The base has length 5x+1. What is the length of the base

Answer 1

36

Explanation:

We know the legs of an isosceles triangle are equal.

Therefore 3x-1 = -x+27

We can add x to both sides to get 4x-1=27

Add 1 to both sides to get 4x=28

Divide each side by 4 to get x=7

We can plug x into the base equation 5x+1

5(7)+1 = 35+1 = 36

The base length is 36

Answer 2

Explanation:

As it is an isosceles triangle, 3x - 1 = -x + 27

3x - 1 = -x + 27

3x + x = 27 +1

4x = 28

x = 28/4

x = 7 units

Length of the base = 5x + 1 = 5*7 + 1 = 35 +1 = 36 units