Final answer:
Let the shorter side of the rectangle be x, so the longer side is 3x - 10. We use the formula for the perimeter of a rectangle (20 = 2(x + 3x - 10)) to solve for x and find that the shorter side is 5 feet.
Step-by-step explanation:
This is a problem in algebra and involves setting up and solving a linear equation based on the information given about the sides of a rectangle and its perimeter. If we let the shorter side of the rectangle be x, then one longer side according to the problem can be expressed as 3x - 10. The perimeter of a rectangle is given by the formula P = 2(length + width). In this case, we know the perimeter (P) is 20 feet, so we can set up the equation as 20 = 2(x + 3x - 10). Solving this equation gives x = 5, meaning that the shorter side of the rectangle is 5 feet.
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