The perimeter of a triangle is 42 cm. sides #1 and #2 have equal length, while side #3 is two centimeters shorter than twice the length of side #1. how long is each side?
define a variable (just one variable) and write an equation to sole the problem.
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geometry: triangles

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call the larger triangle abc

then the smaller triangle cde is similar to abc (all angles are equal, aaa).  

ab is the side that is 36, and we wish to find de, the side corresponding to ab

area_cde = area_abc - area_cde --> area_abc / area_cde = 2

let x=length of de

ratio of areas = (ratio of sides)^2

+2+=+%2836%2fx%29%5e2+

+2+=+1296%2fx%5e2+

++x%5e2+=+1296%2f2+=+648+

25.45584

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