Question

If the measure of two sides of the triangle are 3 feet's and 7 feet's, which is the least possible whole number measure for the third side

Answer 1

5 feet

Explanation:

By triangle inequality, the sum of lengths of any two sides has to be strictly greater than the length of the third side.

Let x feet be the length of the third side.

We have 3+x>7, x+7>3 and 3+7>x.

Solving these, we get x > 4, x > -4 and x < 10.

The solution is therefore 4 < x < 10 and the smallest whole number which satisfies the inequality is 5.

Therefore the answer is 5 feet.