Question

The perimeter of a triangle is 17x−5 units. One side is 3x+5 units and another is 8x−3 units. How many units long is the third side?

Answer 1

9514 1404 393

Answer:

6x -7 units

Explanation:

Let c represent the length of the third side. The perimeter is the sum of the three side lengths.

P = a + b + c

(17x -5) = (3x +5) +(8x -3) +c

17x -5 = 11x +2 + c . . . . . . . . . . . . collect terms

6x -7 = c . . . . . . . . . . . . . . subtract 11x+2

The third side is 6x -7 units.