Question

A flower bed is in the shape of a triangle with one side twice the length of the shortest side and the third side is 18 feet more than the length of the shortest side. Find the dimensions if the perimeter is 154 feet.

Answer 1

side lengths are 34 ft, 52 ft, 68 ft

Explanation:

Let s represent the length of the shortest side. Then the other two sides have lengths 2s and (s+18). Their total length, the perimeter, is ...

s + 2s + (s+18) = 154 . . . . . the perimeter is the sum of side lengths

4s = 136 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . collect terms, subtract 18

s = 34 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . divide by 4, then figure the other lengths

2s = 68

s+18 = 52

The side lengths of the triangle are 34 feet, 68 feet, and 52 feet.