the perimeter of an isosceles triangle is 21 meters. the length of one side is 3 meters longer than the length of the other two sides. find the length of each side.

1 answer

sides : x, x , 21-2x

"the length of one side is 3 meters longer than the length of the other two sides"

This is ambiguous

1st interpretation:

----> 21-2x = x+x+3
-4x = -18
x = 4.5

sides are 4.5, 4.5, and 12
This is not a possible triangle.
To have a triangle the longest side must be less than the sum of the other two sides,

2nd interpretation:

---> 21-2x = x+3
-3x = -18
x = 6
sides are 6, 6, and 9

This one works.