Question

A flower bed is in the shape of triangle with one side twice the length of the shortest side, and the third side is 26 feet more than the length of the shortest side. Find the dimensions if the perimeter is 178 feet.

Answer 1

Represent the lengths of the three sides. They are x, 2x and x+26.

Adding thse together gives us the perimeter, P:

P = x + 2x + x + 26 = 178 feet

Then 4x + 26 = 178; 4x = 152 and x = 38 feet

The side lengths are 38, 76 and 64 feet.

Check by adding these together. The sum must be 178 feet.