Question

A​ triangular-shaped deck has one side that is 4 feet longer than the shortest side and a third side that is 4 feet shorter than twice the length of the shortest side. If the perimeter of the deck is 80 ​feet, what are the lengths of the three​ sides?

Answer 1

Answer:

The shortest side is 20 feet, the second side is 24 feet and the third side is 36 feet.

Step-by-step explanation:

Assuming that the shortest side of this triangle has a length of "x" feet, then one side is "x + 4" feet and the third is "2*x - 4" feet. Since the perimeter of the deck is 80 feet, then the sum of the length of these sides should be equal to that.

$x + x + 4 + 2*x - 4 = 80\\4*x = 80\\x = \frac{80}{4} = 20 \text{ feet}$

The shortest side is 20 feet, the second side is 24 feet and the third side is 36 feet.