PLEASE HELP!!
One side of an equilateral triangle increased by 9 is 31 less than 3 times another side. If the sides are measured in inches, what are the measures of the three sides of the triangle?

Question

PLEASE HELP!!
One side of an equilateral triangle increased by 9 is 31 less than 3 times another side. If the sides are measured in inches, what are the measures  of the three sides of the triangle?

tkhunny · Answer

You do know they all start out the same size, right?

mathhelp346 · Answer

But then what about all the adding and multiplying?

tkhunny · Answer

ALWAYS start by naming things.

E = The length of all three sides of the equilateral triangle.

Now translate...

"One side of an equilateral triangle increased by 9"

That's E + 9

"is 31 less than 3 times another side."

Okay, so E + 9 = 3E - 31

Anything left to translate or can we proceed with the solution?

mathhelp346 · Answer

Why -31? If it's 31 less than 3 times shouldn't it be +31?

tkhunny · Answer

3 times is 3E
31 less than 3 times is 3E - 31

You may be trying to put the 31 on the wrong side of the equation.  I do not recommend this.  I recommend translating EXACTLY what the problem statement says.  That's why I called it the "WRONG SIDE" and not just "the other side if that's how you feel like doing it".

mathhelp346 · Answer

Ok thanks