Grade

8
MATHEMATICS
Self – Learning Home Task
QUARTER 4
Lesson 1 – Triangle Inequalities

Name: ___________________________________________ Section: _______________

MELC (Most Essential Learning Competencies)

 Illustrates theorems on triangle inequalities (Exterior Angle Inequality Theorem, Triangle Inequality
Theorem and Hinge Theorem).
 Applies theorems on triangle inequalities.

SCORE:

Activity 1 Activity 2

Exercise 1 Exercise 2

1
Think about this…

In a triangle, you may discover a relationship between the angle and its
opposite side.

Shortest Angle

Largest Angle

Longest Side Shortest Side

The two triangles above clearly illustrate a relationship, the largest angle is opposite to the largest side, and
the shortest angle opposites the shortest side.

We can now say that…

 If one side of a triangle is longer than another side, then the angle opposite to the longer side is larger than
the angle opposite the shorter side.

6
4 ´ , then ∠ X is larger
´ is longer than XY
Since YZ
than ∠ Z .

X Z

 If one angle of a triangle is larger than another angle, then the side opposite to the larger angle is longer
than the side opposite the smaller angle.

27 °

P
Since ∠ P is larger than ∠ Q , then RQ
´ is longer 58 °
´ .
than PR

2
Example 1
Write the angles or sides of the two triangle below in order from least to greatest.

B
a.
Solution:
7 5
´ < AB<
BC ´ AC
´

∠ A<∠ C <∠B
A C
8

E
b.
48 °
Solution:

∠ E<∠ F <∠ D
´ < ED
DF ´ < EF
´
81 ° 51 °
D F

In this part of our lesson, we are now sure that in a triangle there is a relationship between the angle and its
opposite side and vice versa.

Examine this…

Illustration 1

Given the following groups of side lengths below, can we conclude that the following side lengths can be able to
construct a triangle?

a. 3 cm, 3 cm, 7 cm
b. 3 cm, 4 cm, 7 cm
c. 4 cm, 4 cm, 7 cm

Solution:

If we draw a triangle of the given side lengths we got,

a. 3 cm, 3 cm, 7 cm

3 3
5
5

7
5

3
 - No Triangle formed.

b. 3 cm, 4 cm, 7 cm

4
3 5

7
5

- No Triangle formed.

c. 4 cm, 4 cm, 7 cm

4 4
5 5

7
5

- A Triangle formed.

I observe that…

ACTIVITY 1. What can you observe in the illustration 1 above? Kindly share your thoughts by writing what have you
observe in the space below. (10 points)

_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________

We can actually summarize the idea presented in Illustration 1 with Triangle Inequality Theorem.

4
Know this…

Triangle Inequality Theorem A

The sum of the lengths of any two sides of a triangle is greater

than the length of the third side.

AB+ BC > AC
AC + BC > AB C
AB+ AC > BC
Illustration 2 B

4
5
4
5

7
5

If we separate all the side of the triangle above we got,

4
5 4
5

+ > 7
5
(Greater Than)
7

+
5
> 4
5

(Greater Than)
4
5

7
5

The illustration above proves Triangle Inequality Theorem is true.

5
Know this…

Exterior Angle Inequality Theorem

The measure of an exterior angle of a triangle is greater than the

measure of either of the two nonadjacent interior angles.

m∠1> m∠ A
and
m∠ 1> m∠ B

According to Exterior Angle Theorem, the measure of each exterior angle of a triangle is equal to the sum of the
opposite and non-adjacent interior angles. In our figure above it follows the measurement of exterior angle 1 is
equal to the measurement of angle A and angle B.

m∠1=m∠ A+ m∠ B
This idea gives birth to Exterior Angle Theorem, because since m∠1=m∠ A+ m∠ B, it follows m∠1> m∠ A
and m∠1> m∠B .
Example 2

Ordering Sides. List the sides in order from shortest to longest side.

1. Solution:
We need to solve first ∠ A .
∠ A=180° −71°−42 °
∠ A=67 °

Since ∠ A is solved, we can now list down the smallest to largest angle.
∠ B, ∠ A , ∠ C

We can list down the shortest to longest side.

´ , CB
AC ´ , AB
´

Solution:
We need to solve first ∠ R .
2. ∠ R=180 ° −50° −65 °
∠ R=65°

Since ∠ R is solved, we can now list down the smallest to largest angle.
∠ S, ∠ R , ∠ T

We can list down the shortest to longest side.

´ , ŔS , ST
RT ´

Solution:
3. We need to solve first ∠ J .
∠ J =180 °−90 °−35 °
∠ J =55 °

Since ∠ J is solved, we can now list down the smallest to largest angle.
∠ H, ∠J , ∠ K 6

We can list down the shortest to longest side.

´ , KH
KJ ´ , JH
´
Example 3

Ordering Angles. List the angles in order from smallest to largest.

1. Solution:
We need to list down the shortest to longest side first.
MK´ , LM´ , LK
´
Now we can determine and list down the smallest to largest angle.
∠ L, ∠ K , ∠ M

Solution:
2.
We need to list down the shortest to longest side first.
´ , NP
PQ ´
´ , NQ
Now we can determine and list down the smallest to largest angle.
∠ N , ∠ Q, ∠ P

Solution:
3.
We need to list down the shortest to longest side first.
´
´ , TS
ŔS , TR
Now we can determine and list down the smallest to largest angle.
∠ T , ∠ S, ∠ R

ACTIVITY 2

Ordering Sides. List the sides in order from shortest to longest. Put your answer in the rectangle.

7
1.

2.

3.

Ordering Angles. List the angles in order from smallest to largest. Put your answer in the rectangle.

4.

5.

6.

Let’s analyze…

´ ≅ DE
In the two triangles shown, notice that AB ´ and BC
´ ≅ EF
´ ,
but m∠ B is greater than m∠ E .

It appears that the side opposite the 122 ° angle is longer than
the side opposite the 85 ° angle.

This relationship is guaranteed by the Hinge Theorem.

Hinge Theorem

If two sides of one triangle are congruent to two sides of another

triangle, and the included angle of the first is larger than the 8
included angle of the second, then the third side of the first is
longer than the third side of the second.
Example 4

1.

Answer:

Hence the side of the first triangle is 27 and the second triangle
is 26 according to Hinge Theorem it follows that m∠1> m∠ 2.

2.
Answer:

Hence the m∠ M of the first triangle is 45 ° and m∠ P of the

second triangle is 47 ° according to Hinge Theorem it follows
´ NQ
that KL> ´ .

Exercise 1

1. Name the smallest to the largest angles of ∆≝¿.

_______________________________________

2. Name the shortest to the longest sides of ∆≝¿.

_______________________________________
3. Is it possible to draw a triangle with side lengths of 5 inches, 2 inches, and 8 inches? Explain why or why not.

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_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. The term “kitchen triangle” refers to the imaginary triangle formed by three
kitchen appliances: the refrigerator, the sink, and the range. The distances shown are
measured in feet.

a. What is wrong with the labels on the kitchen triangle?

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

b. Can a kitchen triangle have the following side lengths: 9 feet, 3 feet, and 5
feet? Explain why or why not?

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

Exercise 2

1. 2. 3.

4. 5. 6.

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