Question

The perimeter of a triangle is 33 centimeters. The second side is twice as long as the first side, and the third side is

three centimeters longer than the second. How long is each side? Define your variable. (What is your variable and
what does it represent?

Answer 1

a = 6, b = 12, and c = 15

Explanation:

For this first equation, I'll be using the variables of a, b and c because they're are commonly used to mark the sides of triangles, a being the first side, b being the second, and c being the third. The first equation is

a + b + c = 33

Duh, but lets figure out what those variables mean. I am going to use x as the value of the first side. a = x, b = 2x, and c = 2x+3. Now, if plus those into the equation we get

x + 2x + (2x+3)= 33

Add your like terms to get

5x + 3 = 33

and follow the order of operations to get

x = 6

Plug the value of x back into the individual side equations.

a = 6, b = 2(6) and c = 2(6) + 3

simplify and you get your answer.