Question

Max has three pieces of oak trim that are 7 inches, 11 inches, and 18 inches long. He wants to use them to make a triangular base for a candleholder. Will the pieces make a triangle? Explain your answer.​

Answer 1

• No

Explanation:

Use triangle inequality theorem, which states

"The sum of the lengths of any two sides of a triangle is greater than the length of the third side."

The sum of two sides compared to the remaining side:

• 7 + 11 = 18 = 18 - not ok
• 7 + 18 = 25 > 11 - ok
• 11 + 18 = 29 > 7 - ok

The sum of two sides is equal to the third side. This makes it impossible to make a triangle. Therefore the answer is no.