Exercise 6 Page 49

The perimeter of a shape is calculated by adding the lengths of all the sides. It is given that the perimeter of the triangle is 13 inches. We can write the following equation. 13=(x-5)+ x2+6Solving the equation will give us the value of x. Then we can determine the length of the shortest side.

13=(x-5)+x/2+6

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Solve for x

RemovePar

Remove parentheses

13=x-5+x/2+6

CommutativePropAdd

Commutative Property of Addition

13=x+x/2-5+6

NumberToFrac

a = 2* a/2

13=2x/2+x/2-5+6

AddTerms

Add terms

13=3x/2+1

SubEqn

LHS-1=RHS-1

12=3x/2

MultEqn

LHS * 2=RHS* 2

24=3x

DivEqn

.LHS /3.=.RHS /3.

8=x

RearrangeEqn

Rearrange equation

x=8

Solving the equation gives x=8. One side of the triangle is 6 inches. We must solve for the values of the other two sides. To do this, we will substitute x=8 into the given equations.

Equation	x=8	Side Length
x-5	8-5	3 inches
x/2	8/2	4 inches

The shortest side of the triangle measures 3 inches, which is option B.