Geometry/Chapter 6

From Wikibooks, the open-content textbooks collection

< Geometry
Jump to: navigation, search

Contents

[edit] The Triangle Inequality

The Triangle Inequality states that the sum of the lengths of any two sides of a triangle must be greater than the length of the third side of the triangle.

For instance, if you have a triangle with sides of length A, B and C. Then you know that

  • A + B > C
  • A + C > B
  • C + B > A

In Euclidean Geometry, it is impossible to draw a triangle that violates the Triangle Inequality.

[edit] Using the Triangle Inequality

The Triangle Inequality can be used to find the length of a side of a triangle. For instance, say you have a triangle with sides labeled A, B and C. If you know that A = 7, and B = 5 then you can figure out the approximate value of C as follows:

Statement Reason
7 + 5 > C Triangle Inequality
12 > C Definition of Addition
C < 12 Definition of Less Than


So we know that the third side of our triangle is less than 12, but that doesn't help us very much. It turns out that the triangle Inequality can help us again.

Statement Reason
C + 5 > 7 Triangle Inequality
C > 7 - 5 Definition of Subtraction
C > 2 Definition of Subtraction


In this situation, there is a range of values that C could take. C has to be more than 2, and less than 12. 2 < C < 12.

So it turns out that the measure of the third side of any triangle falls in between the Sum and Differences of the other two sides. Example: If two sides are 9 and 6, then the remaining side's measure would be between 15 (the sum of 9 and 6) and 3 (the difference of 9 and 6). This would result in the following inequality: 3 < c < 15.

There are many triangles that could fit our givens.

[edit] Exercises

1) Try to draw a triangle that violates the Triangle Inequality.

2) For each of the following sets of A, B and C, indicate whether the 3 lengths could be the sides of a triangle or not.

  • A = 3, B = 4, C = 5
  • A = 3, B = 8, C = 5
  • A = 14, B = 5, C = 8
  • A = 5, B = 5, C = 5

3) Given that you have a triangle with sides of length 12 and 2, write a proof showing what range of values the third side could take. Use a two-column format as shown above.

[edit] Triangle Inequality Theorem

In any triangle, the longest side is opposite of the largest angle, the middle sized side is opposite the middle measured angle, and the shortest side is opposite the smallest angle.

Example Problem In triangle ABC, if angle A is 100 degrees and angle B is 35 degrees and angle C is 45 degrees, what are lengths of sides from longest to shortest?

Answer:

       Since side BC is opposite the largest angle, it is the largest side.
       Since side AB is opposite the middle sized angle, it is the middle sized side.
       Since side AC is opposite the smallest angle, so it is the smallest side.

[edit] Converse of the Triangle Inequality Theorem

In any triangle ABC, the largest angle is opposite the longest side, the middle sized angle is opposite the middle length side, and the smallest angle is opposite the smallest side.

Example Problem If a triangle has side AB =10, AC =5 and BC = 7, What are are the angles measures in order from largest to smallest?

        Answer: m<C > m<A > m<B

[edit] Triangle Inequality In Two Triangles: The Hinge Theorem

If two sides of one triangle are congruent to two sides of a second triangle, and the angle between these sides of the first triangle is greater than the angle between these side of the second, then the third side of the first triangle is greater than the third side of the second triangle.

        Example: If triangles ABC and DEF have sides AB= DE and AC = DF and m<A = 80 degrees and m<D = 70 then BC > EF.

Navigation

Geometry Main Page

Retrieved from "http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Geometry/Chapter_6"
Personal tools
Create a book
  • Add wiki page
  • Collections help