geo help please-length of isosceles triangle

[cullen]

Problem-the lengths of the legs of an isosceles triangle are 2x-10 and x+4. What are the lengths of the legs of the triangle? Any help? Thanks.

 

[stapel]

Problem-the lengths of the legs of an isosceles triangle are 2x-10 and x+4. What are the lengths of the legs of the triangle? Any help? Thanks.

Did the exercise maybe specify that the two expressions stand for the lengths of the two same-length sides of the triangle? (Because that is, after all, the point of "isosceles", right?) If so, then what equation can you create and then solve?

 

[lookagain]

That makes NO sense...post original problem EXACTLY as it appears in your book...
Do you know what an isosceles triangle is?

Denis, the problem makes sense, because when "leg" is mentioned in reference as part of an isosceles triangle problem,
it is unambiguously known to be one of the two congruent sides.


http://www.mathwords.com/l/leg_of_isosceles_triangle.html

http://library.thinkquest.org/20991/geo/ietri.html

 

[HallsofIvy]

The "legs" of an isosceles triangle are the same length so we must have 2x- 10= x+ 4. Solve for x.

 

[Mrspi]

Once you have found the value of x (as suggested in the previous response), you'll need to substitute that value in the expression given for the length of each leg, so you can respond appropriately. The question does require you to find the length of each leg. This is a step that students often overlook, in my experience.