Question

The first side of a triangle measures 5 in. less than the second side, the third side is 3 in. more than the first side, and the perimeter is 17 in. How long is the third side? If s represents the length of the second side, which of the following represents the length of the third side?

Answer 1

first side = x
second side = x+5
third side = x+3
perimeter = 17

x + x+5 + x+3 = 17
3x = 17-5-3
3x = 12-3
3x = 9
x = 9/3
x = 3 in (first side)
x+5 = 3+5 = 8 in (second side)
x+3 = 3+3 = 6 in (third side)