College

The isosceles triangle has a perimeter of 7.5 m. Which equation can be used to find the value of [tex]x[/tex] if the shortest side, [tex]y[/tex], measures 2.1 m?

A. [tex]2x - 2.1 = 7.5[/tex]
B. [tex]4.2 + v = 7.5[/tex]
C. [tex]v - 4.2 = 7.5[/tex]
D. [tex]2.1 + 2x = 7.5[/tex]

Answer :

To solve this problem, let's break it down step by step. We have an isosceles triangle with a known perimeter and one known side, and we need to find an equation to determine the variable [tex]\( x \)[/tex], which represents the other two sides.

1. Understanding Isosceles Triangle: An isosceles triangle has two sides of equal length. In this problem, let's assume the two equal sides are [tex]\( x \)[/tex].

2. Given Information:
- Perimeter of the triangle = 7.5 meters.
- Shortest side [tex]\( y \)[/tex] = 2.1 meters.

3. Formulating the Perimeter Equation:
- The perimeter of a triangle is the sum of all its sides. For this triangle:
[tex]\[
\text{Perimeter} = x + x + y = 2x + y
\][/tex]

4. Substitute the known values:
- We know the perimeter is 7.5 meters and [tex]\( y \)[/tex] is 2.1 meters. This gives us the equation:
[tex]\[
2x + 2.1 = 7.5
\][/tex]

This equation, [tex]\( 2.1 + 2x = 7.5 \)[/tex], is the correct one to use to find the value of [tex]\( x \)[/tex].