Question 5
Which of the following lengths can be the sidelengths of a triangle? Explain your answers. Note that for each set, the three lengths have the same unit of measure.
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g)
- According to the Triangle Inequality Theorem, the sum of any two sides of a triangle must be strictly greater than the third side.
- A quick and sufficient test is to check whether the sum of the two shortest side lengths is greater than the longest side length:
- If this condition holds true, the three lengths can form a triangle; otherwise, they cannot.
(a)
Step 1 · Check Triangle Inequality

The two shortest lengths are and , and the longest length is .
Sum of the two shortest sides:
Comparing with the longest side:
Since the sum is not greater than the third side, these lengths cannot form a triangle.
(a) No, cannot be the sidelengths of a triangle.
(b)
Step 1 · Check Triangle Inequality

The two shortest lengths are and , and the longest length is .
Sum of the two shortest sides:
Comparing with the longest side:
Since the sum is greater than the third side, these lengths can form a triangle.
(b) Yes, can be the sidelengths of a triangle.
(c)
Step 1 · Check Triangle Inequality

The two shortest lengths are and , and the longest length is .
Sum of the two shortest sides:
Comparing with the longest side:
Since the sum is not greater than the third side, these lengths cannot form a triangle.
(c) No, cannot be the sidelengths of a triangle.
(d)
Step 1 · Check Triangle Inequality

The two shortest lengths are and , and the longest length is .
Sum of the two shortest sides:
Comparing with the longest side:
Since the sum is greater than the third side, these lengths can form a triangle.
(d) Yes, can be the sidelengths of a triangle.
(e)
Step 1 · Check Triangle Inequality

The two shortest lengths are and , and the longest length is .
Sum of the two shortest sides:
Comparing with the longest side:
Since the sum is greater than the third side, these lengths can form a triangle.
(e) Yes, can be the sidelengths of a triangle.
(f)
Step 1 · Check Triangle Inequality

The two shortest lengths are and , and the longest length is .
Sum of the two shortest sides:
Comparing with the longest side:
Since the sum is not greater than the third side, these lengths cannot form a triangle.
(f) No, cannot be the sidelengths of a triangle.
(g)
Step 1 · Check Triangle Inequality

The two shortest lengths are and , and the longest length is .
Sum of the two shortest sides:
Comparing with the longest side:
Since the sum is greater than the third side, these lengths can form a triangle.
(g) Yes, can be the sidelengths of a triangle.
- Strict Inequality: Forgetting that the sum of the two shorter sides must be strictly greater than the longest side (), not greater than or equal to (). If , the sides lie flat as a straight line segment and cannot form a triangle.
- Checking the Wrong Pair: Adding the longest side to a shorter side instead of adding the two shortest sides together.
More questions in FIO
Use the points on the circle and/or the centre to form isosceles triangles.
Use the points on the circles and/or their centres to form isosceles and equilateral triangles. The circles are of the same size.
We checked by construction that there are no triangles having sidelengths , and ; and , and . Check if you could have found this without trying to construct the triangle.
Can we say anything about the existence of a triangle for each of the following sets of lengths?
(a) , and
(b) , and
(c) , and
Which of the following lengths can be the sidelengths of a triangle? Explain your answers. Note that for each set, the three lengths have the same unit of measure.
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g)
Check if a triangle exists for each of the following set of lengths:
(a) 1, 100, 100
(b) 3, 6, 9
(c) 1, 1, 5
(d) 5, 10, 12
Does there exist an equilateral triangle with sides 50, 50, 50? In general, does there exist an equilateral triangle of any sidelength? Justify your answer.
For each of the following, give at least 5 possible values for the third length so there exists a triangle having these as sidelengths (decimal values could also be chosen):
(a) ,
(b) ,
(c) ,
See if you can describe all possible lengths of the third side in each case, so that a triangle exists with those sidelengths. For example, in case (a), all numbers strictly between and would be possible.
Construct triangles for the following measurements where the angle is included between the sides:
(a) , ,
(b) , ,
(c) , ,
Construct triangles for the following measurements:
(a) , ,
(b) , ,
(c) , ,
For each of the following angles, find another angle for which a triangle is (a) possible, (b) not possible. Find at least two different angles for each category:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Determine which of the following pairs can be the angles of a triangle and which cannot:
(a) ,
(b) ,
(c) ,
(d) ,
Find the third angle of a triangle (using a parallel line) when two of the angles are:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Can you construct a triangle all of whose angles are equal to ? If two of the angles are what would the third angle be? If all the angles in a triangle have to be equal, then what must its measure be? Explore and find out.
Here is a triangle in which we know and . Can you find and ?
Construct a triangle with , , . Construct an altitude from to .
Construct a triangle with , , . Construct an altitude from to .
Construct a right-angled triangle with , . How many different triangles exist with these measurements?
[Hint: Note that the other measurements can take any values. Take as the base. What values can and take so that the other angle is ?]
Through construction, explore if it is possible to construct an equilateral triangle that is: (i) right-angled (ii) obtuse-angled.
Also construct an isosceles triangle that is: (i) right-angled (ii) obtuse-angled.