Mathematics

8
Quarter 4 - Module 2
Theorems on Triangle Inequalities

Department of Education ● Republic of the Philippines

 What I Know

Multiple Choice:
Directions: Read and answer the questions below. Select the letter of the best
answer from among the given choices.
1. The measure of an exterior angle of a triangle is always_____________.
a. greater than its adjacent interior angle.
b. less than its adjacent interior angle.
c. greater than either remote interior angle
d. less than either remote interior angle
2. What are the two remote interior angles of angel Z?

a. ∠𝐸 & ∠𝑀
b. ∠𝑀 & ∠𝑅
c. ∠𝐸 & ∠𝑅
d. ∠𝐸 & ∠𝑍

3. Identify which of the following length given can form a triangle?

I. 6cm, 6cm, 6cm
II. 4cm, 5cm, 9cm
III. 7cm, 5cm, 6cm
IV. 3cm, 7cm, 5cm

a. I and III only b. II and III c. I,III,IV d. I,II, III

4. What are the possible values of x in the figure below?

a. 5 < X < 11
b. 5 > X > 11
c. 11 > X > 5
d. 11 < X < 5

5. Which side of ∆ERM is the shortest?

a. ̅̅̅̅
𝐸𝑅
b. ̅̅̅̅̅
𝑅𝑀
c. ̅̅̅̅̅
𝐸𝑀
d. ̅̅̅̅̅
𝑀𝑅
 Lesson 1 Theorems on Triangle Inequalities and its Application

What I Need to Know

Triangle Inequality

It states that the sum of the lengths of any two sides of a triangle is greater than the
length of the remaining side. It follows from the fact that a straight line is the shortest path
between two points. The inequality is strict if the triangle is non-degenerate (meaning it has a
non-zero area).

What’s New

Activity 1: Yeah or Nay

Can you make a triangle having the lengths of the following?

Length Yes No

1. 2cm, 3cm, 5cm

2. 3cm, 4cm, 5cm

3. 5cm, 3cm, 6cm

4. 6cm, 1cm, 2cm

5. 4cm, 3cm, 6cm

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 What is It: Let’s Get to Know

Activity 1 proves that not all three given length can form a triangle. In item 1, it’s a “No”.
If we will add 2cm and 3 cm the result is not greater than 5cm which is the third side. We
should remember theorem that states “the sum of the lengths of any two sides of a triangle is
greater than the length of the remaining side” before we can conclude that the three given
length can automatically form a triangle. So in order to know this concept deeper, let us
proceed to the discussion below.

Inequalities Theorem Definition

In One Triangle
1.Theorem 1 (Ss Aa) If one side of a triangle is longer than a second
side, then the angle opposite the first side is
larger than the angle opposite the second side.
2. Theorem 2 (Aa Ss) If one angle of a triangle is larger than a second
angle, then the side opposite the first angle is
longer than the side opposite the second angle.

3. Theorem 3 (S1 + S2 >S3) The sum of the lengths of any two sides of a
triangle is greater than the length of the third
side.

4.Exterior Angle Inequality Theorem The measure of an exterior angle of a triangle is

greater than the measure of either remote interior
angle

In Two Triangles
5.Hinge Theorem or SAS Inequality If two sides of one triangle are congruent to two
Theorem sides of another triangle, but the included angle
of the first triangle is greater than the included
angle of the second, then the third side of the first
triangle is longer than the third side of the
second.
6.Converse of Hinge Theorem or SSS If two sides of one triangle are congruent to two
Inequality Theorem sides of another triangle, but the third side of the
first triangle is longer than the third side of the
second, then the included angle of the first
triangle is larger than the included angle of the
second.

Theorem1: If one side of a triangle is longer than a second side, then the angle opposite the
first side is larger than the angle opposite the second side.

Proof:

If 4 < 5 < 7 ; AB < BC < AC

Then m∠C <m∠A < m∠B

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Theorem 2: If one angle of a triangle is larger than a second angle, then the side opposite
the first angle is longer than the side opposite the second angle.

If 78º > 58º > 44º ;

m∠ B > m∠ A > m∠ C
then AC > BC > AB

Theorem 3: The sum of the lengths of any two sides of a triangle is greater than the length
of the third side.

Two Options:
a. AC is the longest
- 12 + 17 > x
- 29 > x
- x< 29
b. BC is the longest
- x + 12 > 17
- x +12 -12 > 17 – 12
- x>5
therefore, 5 < x < 29

In the first option, it implies that the value of x which is the side AC must be less than
29 while in the second option, the value of x must be greater than 5. Therefore, 5 < x < 29
simply means that the values of x ranges from 6 to 28. To show this, let’s have an example
then we will check if the inequality is true.

For example:
Let x = 20
a. AC is the longest
12 + 17 > x
12 + 17 > 20
29 > 20 (True)

Let x = 10
b. BC is the longest
x + 12 > 17
10 + 12 > 17
22 > 17 (True)

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Exterior Angle Inequality Theorem: The measure of an exterior angle of a triangle is
greater than the measure of either remote interior angle

m∠4 > m∠ 1 or m∠4 > m∠2 or m∠4 = 𝑚∠1 + 𝑚∠2

m∠4 = 𝑚∠1 + 𝑚∠2 This means that the measure

of an exterior angle of a triangle is
equal to the sum of the measures of
its two remote interior angles.

Hinge Theorem or SAS Inequality Theorem: If two sides of one triangle are congruent to
two sides of another triangle, but the included angle of the first triangle is greater than the
included angle of the second, then the third side of the first triangle is longer than the third
side of the second.

EF > BC AB = DE , AC = DF
m∠𝐷 > 𝑚∠𝐴

Converse of Hinge Theorem or SSS Inequality Theorem: If two sides of one triangle are
congruent to two sides of another triangle, but the third side of the first triangle is longer than
the third side of the second, then the included angle of the first triangle is larger than the
included angle of the second.

m∠ 𝐴𝐶𝐵 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑚∠ 𝐺𝐷𝐸

m∠ 𝐴𝐶𝐵 > 𝑚∠ 𝐺𝐷𝐸

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 What’s More

Activity 2: It’s My Turn

Consider the illustrations.

Questions:
1. If ̅̅̅̅ ̅ = 12, then what can you say about m∠1 and m∠3?
MI = 15 and IX
2. If m∠1 = 65 and m∠3 = 500, then what can you say about sides MI and IX?
0

3. If MI = 15 and IX = 12, then what may be the measure of MX?

4. If m∠2 = 650 and m∠3 = 500, then what is the measure of ∠4?

Using the Hinge Theorem and its Converse, write a conclusion on figure 2.

Note to the learner:

In question number 1 in activity 2, m∠1 > m∠3 by applying Theorem 1 that states, “If
one side of a triangle is longer than a second side, then the angle opposite the first side is
larger than the angle opposite the second side”. Angle 1 is the opposite of side MI which
measures 15 while angle 3 is the opposite of side IX which only measures 12. Since 15 is
greater than 12, therefore, the measure of angle 1 is greater than the measure of angle 3.

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 What I Have Learned

Activity 3: Draw Me If You Can?

A. Can you form a triangle from sticks of lengths 7,9 and 20? First is done for you.

Find it Out Simplified Forms Is the simplified form Can a triangle be

true? formed? Justify
1. 7 + 9 > 20 16 > 20 No. No. Theorem 1
2. 7 + 20 > 9
3. 9 + 20 >7
Which question should be enough to find out if a triangle can be formed?

B. Answer the following questions:

1. Does a triangle with these side lengths exist? 15, 12,9

2. Can the sides of a triangle have lengths 3,4, and 9?
3. What is the possible third side to a triangle with side lengths of 13 and 4?
4. Order the sides from least to greatest.

What I Can Do

Activity 4: Tell Me

1. One angle of a scalene triangle measures 650. Does this angle lie opposite the shortest,
longest, or the other side? Explain your answer.
2. A triangle has two sides that are 6 cm and 15 cm in lengths, respectively. Rey says that the
third side could be 9 cm. Joy says that it could not be 9 cm but it could be 15 cm. Who is
correct and why?
3. In a right triangle, one of the acute angles is 50 more than the other acute angle. Find the
measures of the angles. What is the measure of the exterior angle that is adjacent to the right
angle?

Summary:

Now that you worked through this module, you are able to explain the different
theorems of triangle inequalities, determine why triangle inequality theorem is true and apply
these theorems to line segment to test if the given three side length can form a triangle and in
solving real-life situations for decision making.

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 Assessment : (Post-Test)

Directions: Read and analyse the questions below. Write only the letter of the choice that
you think best answers the questions.

1. The triangle inequality theorem states the sum of the lengths of any two sides of a
triangle is ______________ the length of the third side.
a. greater than
b. less than
c. greater than or equal to
d. less than or equal to
2. Name the smallest angle in this triangle.

a. ∠𝐿
b. ∠𝑂
c. ∠𝑉
d. None of these

3. Does this triangle with these side lengths exist? 12, 9, 6

a. Yes b. No c. I don’t know d. Maybe

4. In ∆CAT and ∆DOG shown below, which of the

following statement is true?
a. CT is longer than DG
b. DG is shorter than CT
c. CA is longer than DO
d. DG is longer than CA

5. Two sides of a triangle have side length of 15 meters and 10 meters. What is the
range of possible lengths of the third side?
a. 6 > x > 12
b. 5 < x < 26
c. 10 > x >15
d. 7 > x > 5