To answer this question, we need to take into account the triangular inequality, that is, in a triangle, the sum of two sides must be greater than one side of the triangle. That is:
![a+b>c,b+c>a,a+c>b](https://img.qammunity.org/2023/formulas/mathematics/college/cnk3qqcph2y3en43x9twjdjp9p3foyeh89.png)
We can see that two of the sides are:
a = 8 in, and b = 7 in, then, we have:
a + b = 8 + 7 = 15. Therefore:
![15>6,\text{ and 15>7,15>9}](https://img.qammunity.org/2023/formulas/mathematics/college/tjl9ci0kvewxvuvw77dx3l20fwoahb1ksv.png)
Therefore, the possible lengths for the third side are:
• 6 inches
,
• 7 inches
,
• 9 inches