two sides of a triangle are equal. The third side is 3 less than the sum of the two equal sides. The perimeter is 31 inches. Find the length of each side

3 answers

one side= 8.5
one side= 8.5
one side = 14
The two sides equal 8.5 inches. The third side equals 14 inches.
8.5+8.5=17
17-3=14
14+17=31
Let x = length of each of the two sides. Then third side = 2x-3

2x + 2x -3 = 31

4x - 3 = 31

4x = 34

x = 8.5

2x - 3 = 17 -3 = 14