HELP!! The second side of a triangular deck is 5 feet longer than the shortest side and a third side that is 5 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?

Question

anonymous · Answer

and what are you having trouble with?

creating the proper equations from the given statements?

anonymous · Answer

yes i dont know how to start?

anonymous · Answer

start with defining your variables

anonymous · Answer

what variables will you be using?

anonymous · Answer

x i guess should it be x, 5-2x, and 5+x?

anonymous · Answer

what is x?

defining is basically stating what each variable will represent
ex.

let "x" be the length of the shortest side of the triangle
let "x2" be the length of the 2nd side of the triangle
and let "x3" be the length of the 3rd side of the triangle

anonymous · Answer

the statements you have written are "almost" correct (one of them is incorrect)

but they have absolutely no meaning because you did not state what is what

anonymous · Answer

Anyways

starting with the first statement
The second side of a triangular deck is 5 feet longer than the shortest side

second side "x2" 
is "="
5 feet longer than the shortest side "x+5"

thus giving you the equation
x2 = x+5

anonymous · Answer

moving onto the 2nd statement 
third side that is 5 feet shorter than twice the length of the shortest side.

third side "x3" 
that is "="
5 feet shorter than twice the length of the shortest side

5 feet smaller than twice the smallest side will be written as "2x-5"

the resulting equation would be 

x3= 2x-5

anonymous · Answer

any questions at this point?

anonymous · Answer

um no thank you very much^^ I get it now

anonymous · Answer

would you like me to finish or you can solve the rest on your own?

anonymous · Answer

um would you help me finish please lol

anonymous · Answer

ok
now, you have 
x - length of shortest side
x2= x+5
and x3 = 2x-5

now, we're told that the perimeter of the triangle is 80 feet

now, perimeter means?

anonymous · Answer

the total of all sides

anonymous · Answer

right, which also means we can write it as the equation

P= x + x2 + x3
where P= 80
x2 = x+5
and 
x3= 2x-5

now, just substitute all the given information and you'll get 

80 = x +(x+5) +(2x-5)

anonymous · Answer

and solve for x

anonymous · Answer

ohhh ok so i would solve for x and substitute it into the other equations

anonymous · Answer

right

anonymous · Answer

ok thank you very much for a very detailed explanation! ;_;

anonymous · Answer

no problem