16Hit1600
AlgebraHardFirst side of a triangle from its perimeter

Algebra practice question

A triangle has a perimeter of 54 centimetres. Its second side is twice as long as its first side, and its third side is 6 centimetres longer than its first side. How long, in centimetres, is the first side?

Answer: 12

x + 2x + (x + 6) = 54 gives 4x = 48, so x = 12.

Common wrong answers

If you answered 18
18 is the third side.
If you answered 24
24 is the second side.
If you answered 13.5
13.5 divides 54 by 4 without subtracting the 6.

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