the base of an isosceles triangle is 5m less than 4 times the length of a side. The perimeter is 67m. Find the length of each side and the base. My answers for the equal side lengths are 24 and the base is 19. What is the proper way to show work since i used guess and check?

Answer 1

Your problem is impossible. You know that any side of a triangle is less than the sum of the other two sides.

base: b
side: s

b = 4s-5
so, 4s-5 < 2s
2s < 5
s < 2.5
But the perimeter is 67!

Maybe you meant the base is 5 less than either of the equal sides. Then we have

b = s-5

perimeter:

p = b+2s = 67

s-5 + 2s = 67
3s = 72
s = 24
b = 24-5 = 19