A triangle has a base 17 units long and the lengths of the other two sides are equal. If the side lengths are whole numbers, what is the shortest possible side length?

Luke started a weight-loss program. the first week, he lost x pounds. the second week, he lost pounds less than times the pounds he lost the first week. the third week, he lost 1 pound more than of the pounds he lost the first week. liam started a weight-loss program when luke did. the first week, he lost 1 pound less than times the pounds luke lost the first week. the second week, he lost 4 pounds less than times the pounds luke lost the first week. the third week, he lost pound more than times the pounds luke lost the first week.