Examples with solutions for Perimeter of a Triangle: The Perimeter of a Triangle

Exercise #1

Look at the triangle in the figure.

What is its perimeter?

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Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

In order to find the perimeter of a triangle, we first need to find all of its sides.

Two sides have already been given leaving only one remaining side to find.

We can use the Pythagorean Theorem.
AB2+BC2=AC2 AB^2+BC^2=AC^2
We insert all of the known data:

AC2=72+32 AC^2=7^2+3^2
AC2=49+9=58 AC^2=49+9=58
We extract the square root:

AC=58 AC=\sqrt{58}
Now that we have all of the sides, we can add them up and thus find the perimeter:
58+7+3=58+10 \sqrt{58}+7+3=\sqrt{58}+10

Answer

10+58 10+\sqrt{58} cm

Exercise #2

The perimeter of a triangle is 12 cm.

What are the lengths of its legs?

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Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

This problem involves determining the lengths of the legs of a triangle whose perimeter is 12 cm, given that one side is 5 cm. To solve, consider the apparent context that implies a right triangle.

First, let's denote the three sides of the triangle as a a , b b , and c c , where c=5 c = 5 cm.

Considering the perimeter formula:

a+b+c=12 a + b + c = 12

Since c c is 5 cm, the equation becomes:

a+b+5=12 a + b + 5 = 12

Solving for a+b a + b :

a+b=7 a + b = 7

Assuming it is a right triangle with the side length of 5 cm as the hypotenuse:

c2=a2+b2 c^2 = a^2 + b^2

Where c=5 c = 5 , the equation is:

52=a2+b2 5^2 = a^2 + b^2
25=a2+b2 25 = a^2 + b^2

We need the integers a a and b b that satisfy both a+b=7 a + b = 7 and a2+b2=25 a^2 + b^2 = 25 .

To trial integer pairs from a+b=7 a + b = 7 :

- If a=3 a = 3 , then b=4 b = 4 .

Check a=3 a = 3 and b=4 b = 4 in the Pythagorean condition:

32+42=9+16=25 3^2 + 4^2 = 9 + 16 = 25

Hence, the pair satisfies both conditions.

Therefore, the lengths of the legs are 3cm 3 \, \text{cm} and 4cm 4 \, \text{cm} .

Answer

3 cm, 4 cm