If the perimeter of an isosceles triangle is 22 inches, what can be inferred about its side lengths?

The correct answer indicates that in an isosceles triangle, by definition, two sides are always equal in length. When we state that the perimeter of this triangle is 22 inches, it affirms that the total length around the triangle, which includes the two equal sides and the base side, amounts to that specific measurement.

This means that the length of the two equal sides can be represented as 2x (where x is the length of one of the equal sides), and the base can be represented as y. Thus, the equation for the perimeter would be:

2x + y = 22

This relationship is essential because it maintains the structural properties of an isosceles triangle while also satisfying the condition imposed by the specified perimeter. The statement confirms that while two sides are equal, the summation of all three sides must equal 22 inches, which holds true under the definition of an isosceles triangle. The other options provided do not accurately describe the properties of an isosceles triangle in relation to its perimeter.