Addis Ababa university

Triangle Inequality

Miliyon T.
November 13, 2015

Abstract: Triangle Inequality is one of the most important inequalities

in mathematics.There are four proofs presented here and each of them are
proved by using different areas of mathematics.
Definition 0.1 (Triangular inequality). The sum of the lengths of any two sides of a
triangle is greater than the length of the third side.

1 Geometry
Proof :
Let ABC be a triangle. We need to show that BA + AC >
BC, BA + BC > AC and BC + AC > BA.
We show only BA + AC > BC. The others can be shown
in similar manner. See the Figure on the right

Extend BA to some point X on AB such that B A X

and AX AC. This is possible by Axiom of segment
^
construction. Join C and X. Since AX AC and AXC
^
XCA.
XCA < XCB by definition of angle comparison.
^ < XCB(i.e.
^
^ < XCB).
^
Thus, AXC
BXC
Now in 4BCX
we have BC < BX. But BX = BA + AX (as B, A, X are
collinear and B A X ,BX = BA + AC as AC AX.
Therefore,

Figure 1.1: 1234

BC < BA + AC

2 Algebra
Theorem 2.1 (Triangle inequality). |x + y| |x| + |y|
Proof. From the definition of absolute value we have
x |x|

and

x |x|

y |y|

and

y |y|

x + y |x| + |y|

(2.1)

(x + y) |x| + |y|

(2.2)

And
From 2.1 and 2.2 we can conclude that
(|x| + |y|) x + y (|x| + |y|)
|x + y| |x| + |y|

3 Complex Analysis
Definition 3.1. Let z = x + iy be complex number with real part x (Re(z) = x) and
imaginary part y (Im(z) = y),
p then the conjugate of z is defined by z = x iy.
Norm of z is given by |z| = x2 + y2 .
Theorem 3.2 (Triangle inequality).
|z1 + z2 | |z1 | + |z2 |

(3.1)

Proof.
|z1 + z2 |2 = (z1 + z2 )(z1 + z2 )

(z1 + z2 )(z1 + z2 ) = z1 (z1 + z2 ) + z2 (z1 + z2 )

= z1 (z1 ) + z1 (z2 ) + z2 (z1 ) + z2 (z2 )
= |z1 |2 + z1 z2 + z1 z2 + |z2 |2
= |z1 |2 + 2Re(z1 z2 ) + |z2 |2 ,

since Re(z) =

z+z
.
2

|z1 |2 + 2|z1 ||z2 | + |z2 |2

|z1 + z2 |2 (|z1 | + |z2 |)2
|z1 + z2 | |z1 | + |z2 |

4 Vector Analysis
Lemma 4.1 (Cauchy-Schwartz inequality).
~ Bk
~ kAkk
~ Bk
~
kA

(4.1)

Proof.
| cos()| 1
~ B|
~ |A||
~ B|
~ cos() |A||
~ B|
~
|A||
~ B|
~ |A
~ B|
~ |A||
~ B|
~
|A||
~ Bk
~ kAkk
~ Bk
~
kA

Theorem 4.2 (Triangular inequality).

~ + Bk
~ kAk
~ + kBk
~
kA

(4.2)

Proof.
~ + Bk
~ 2 = (A + B)(A + B)
kA
~ + B)(
~ A
~ + B)
~ =A
~ A
~ +A
~ B
~ +B
~ A
~ +B
~ B
~
(A
~ 2 + 2A
~ B
~ + kBk
~ 2
= kAk
~ 2 + kBk
~ 2 + kA
~ Bk
~
kAk

~ Bk
~ kAkk
~ Bk
~
But from Cauchy-Schwartz inequality we have kA
Thus,
~ + Bk
~ 2 kAk
~ 2 + kBk
~ 2 + kAkk
~ Bk
~
kA
~ + kBk)
~ 2
(kAk
~ + Bk
~ kAk
~ + kBk
~
|A

References
[1] [Demmisu Gemmeda] An Introduction to Linear Algebra, AAU Press, 2000.
[2] [Robert T. Smith and Roland B. Minton] Calculus.
[3] [Gerard Venema] Foundations of Geometry.
[4] [Hunduma Legesse] Introduction to Complex Analysis. AAU, 2006.