Question

The length of an equilateral triangle is increased by 5 cm. The perimeter of the new triangle is 72 cm. What is the side length of the original triangle?

Answer 1

19cm

Explanation:

An equilateral triangle is a triangle where the length of the 3 sides are the same.

the perimeter is the sum of the 3 sides

for example, if the length of the side of the an equilateral triangle is 5, the perimeter is 5 x 3 = 15

let x = unknown length of side

length after increase = x + 5

(x + 5) x 3 = 72

divide both sides of the equation by 3

x + 5 = 24

subtract 5 from both sides of the equation

x = 24 - 5 = 19cm