Question

The perimeter of a triangle is 24 inches. The longest side of 4 inches is longer than the shortest side, and the shortest side is three-fourths the length of the middle side. How do you find the length of each side of the triangle?

Answer 1

Well this problem is simply impossible.

If the longest side is 4 inches, there is no way that the perimeter of a triangle can be 24 inches.

You are saying that 4 + (something less than 4) + (something less than 4) = 24, which is impossible.

Answer 2

The sides are `6` inches, `8` inches and `10` inches

Explanation:

I'd suggest that the question should read 'The perimeter of a triangle is 24 inches. The longest side is 4 inches longer than the shortest side, and the shortest side is three-fourths the length of the middle side. How do you find the length of each side of the triangle?'

In this case the question can be answered. If `x` is the length of the middle side, then the shortest side is `3/4x` and the longest side is `3/4x +4`

`x +3/4x + 3/4x+4 = 24`

`10/4x =20`
`x = 8`

Then the shortest side is `6` and the longest side is `10`