The triangle above has the following side lengths b = 5.0 units and c = 17.2 units. What is the length of the other side? Answer to one decimal place.

Question

The triangle above has the following side lengths b = 5.0 units and c = 17.2 units. What is the length of the other side? Answer to one decimal place.

Answer 1

17.2 - 5 < 3rd side < 17.2 + 5

12.2 < 3rd side < 22.2

3rd side is anywhere between 12.2 and 22.2

If you had to guess, take the average (12.2+22.2)/2 = 17.2 That guess would have the least error

any side of a triangle can never be greater than the sum of the other two sides

and cannot be less than the difference of the other two sides