Let's denote the lengths of the sides of triangle ABC as follows: AB = 6 cm, BC = x cm, and AC = y cm.
We know that point M is the midpoint of side AC. Therefore, AM = MC = y/2 cm.
The perimeter of triangle ABC is the sum of the lengths of its sides, so we can write the following equation:
AB + BC + AC = 6 + x + y = 2(AM + MC) = 2(y/2 + y/2) = 2y.
Simplifying this equation, we have: 6 + x + y = 2y, 6 + x = y.
We are also given that the perimeters of triangles ABM and BCM differ by 10 cm. The perimeter of triangle ABM is AB + BM + AM, and the perimeter of triangle BCM is BC + BM + MC. Therefore, we can write the following equation:
(AB + BM + AM) - (BC + BM + MC) = 10.
Substituting the known values, we have: (6 + BM + (y/2)) - (x + BM + (y/2)) = 10, 6 + y/2 - x = 10, y/2 - x = 4, x = y/2 - 4.
Now we can substitute this value of x into the equation 6 + x = y to find the value of y:
6 + (y/2 - 4) = y, 12 + y - 8 = 2y, 4 = y.
So, the length of side BC is 4 cm.
