Triangle Side Lengths: Finding Legs When Perimeter is 12 cm

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 $a$, $b$, and $c$, where $c = 5$ cm.

Considering the perimeter formula:

$a + b + c = 12$

Since $c$ is 5 cm, the equation becomes:

$a + b + 5 = 12$

Solving for $a + b$:

$a + b = 7$

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

$c^2 = a^2 + b^2$

Where $c = 5$, the equation is:

$5^2 = a^2 + b^2$
$25 = a^2 + b^2$

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

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

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

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

$3^2 + 4^2 = 9 + 16 = 25$

Hence, the pair satisfies both conditions.

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