The length of each side of an equilateral triangle is decreased by 4 inches, so the perimeter is now 27 inches. What is the origin length of each side of the equilateral triangle?

2 Answers
Jan 27, 2016

The original length of the equilateral triangle was 13 inches.

Explanation:

If the perimeter of the equilateral is now 27 inches that means each side of the triangle measures 9 inches. By definition an equilateral triangle has three equal sides.

If the sides of the original triangle were decreased by 4 inches the original sides of the triangle would be 13 inches.

Jan 30, 2016

#13# #i##nches#

Explanation:

Let the side of the original triangle be #x#

You have decreased the side of the #x# by #4# #i##nches#

Then the algebraic expression is #(x-4)#

There are three sides for a triangle:

#3(x-4)=27#

#rarr3x-12=27#

#rarr3x=27+12#

#rarr3x=39#

#rarrx=39/3=13#

So,side of triangle was #13# #i##nches#