A piece of wire 91 cm long is bent in the form of an isosceles triangle. If the ratio of one of the equal sides to the base is 5 : 3, then what is the length of the base?

Question: A piece of wire 91 cm long is bent in the form of an isosceles triangle. If the ratio of one of the equal sides to the base is 5 : 3, then what is the length of the base?

Solution:
Given,
Ratio of one of the equal sides to the base is 5 : 3
Therefore, the sides are 5x, 3x, 5x.

91 cm piece of wire is bent to form an isosceles triangle.
Thus perimeter of triangle is 91 cm.

ATQ,
∴ 13x = 91
⇒ x = 7

Thus the length of the base = 3 × 7 = 21 cm.