Triangle Inequality

Theorems
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.

• The longest side is opposite the largest angle.

• The shortest side is opposite the smallest angle.
Smallest angle - ∠ S Smallest angle - ∠N
Largest angle - ∠Y Largest angle - ∠W
Given the lengths of the sides, identify the largest and
smallest angle in each triangle.

1. ∆ABC; AB=15, BC=8 and AC=12

Smallest angle - ∠𝐴
Largest angle - ∠𝐶
2. ∆DEF; DE=, EF= and FD=
Smallest angle - ∠𝐹
Largest angle - ∠𝐷
3. ∆JKL; JK=4.9, KL=4.09 and JL=5.2
Smallest angle - ∠ 𝐽
Largest angle - ∠𝐾
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.

• The largest angle is opposite the longest side.

• The smallest angle is opposite the shortest side.
Shortest side - 𝐸𝑁 𝑜𝑟 𝑁𝐸 Shortest side - 𝑂𝐽 𝑜𝑟 𝐽𝑂
Longest side - 𝐸 𝑊 𝑜𝑟 𝑊 𝐸 Longest side - 𝑌𝐽 𝑜𝑟 𝐽𝑌
Given the measures of two angles , identify the longest
and shortest side in each triangle.

1. ∆ABC; m∠A=20O and m∠B=103O

Shortest side - 𝐵𝐶𝑜𝑟 𝐶𝐵
Longest side - 𝐴𝐶 𝑜𝑟 𝐶𝐴
2. ∆DEF; m∠D=17O and m∠F=53O
Shortest side - 𝐸𝐹 𝑜𝑟 𝐹𝐸
Longest side - 𝐷𝐹 𝑜𝑟 𝐹𝐷
3. ∆GHI; m∠H=50O and m∠I=100O
Shortest side - 𝐻𝐼 𝑜𝑟 𝐼𝐻
Longest side - 𝐺𝐻 𝑜𝑟 𝐻𝐺
THEOREM 3 : S1 + S2 > S3

In any triangle, the sum of the lengths of any

two of its sides is greater than the length of its
third side.
Refer to the triangle below, its sides are labeled with
measurements. Observe the relationship of each sides.

S1 + S2 > S3
10 + 9 > 5 19 > 5

Notice that the sum of the 9 + 5 > 10 14 > 10

lengths of any two sides of a
triangle is always greater than
the length of the third side. 5 + 10 > 9 15 > 9
Determine if the given lengths of segments can be the sides of
a triangle. 6 cm, 22 cm, and 10 cm.

S1 + S2 > S3
6 cm, 22 cm and 10
cm cannot be the
6 + 22 > 10 28 > 10 length of the sides of
a triangle because the
sum of two sides 10
22 + 10 > 6 32 > 6 cm and 6 cm is less
than the third side 22
cm.
10 + 6 > 22 16 > 22
Tell whether a triangle can be constructed with segments
having these lengths. Write YES or NO.

1. 6,8,19 NO

2. 4,10,11 YES

3. 4,4,7 YES
THEOREM 4 : Exterior Angle Inequality
Theorem
The measure of an exterior angle of a triangle is
greater than the measure of either of the two
remote interior angles.
 Interior Angles: ∠a, ∠b, and
Exterior Angles: ∠ c ∠y, and
∠x,
∠z

Based on Exterior Angle Inequality

Theorem,
m∠x > m∠y > m∠z >
m∠
m ∠b
x> m∠
m ∠y
a> m∠
m ∠a
z>
m∠c m∠c m∠b
THEOREM 5 : Hinge Theorem

If two sides of a triangle are congruent to two

sides of another triangle and the included angle
of the first is larger than the included angle of
the second, then the third side of the first
triangle is longer than the third side of the
second triangle. (May also be referred to as the
SAS Inequality Theorem)
Compare the length of and

:
𝑂 𝐸≅𝐸𝑂
If m∠REO = 28O and m∠BOE = 17O
Then, ∠REO > ∠BOE

By Hinge Theorem, >

Compare the length of and

:
𝐴𝐵 ≅ 𝑈𝑅
If m∠U = 87O and m∠A = 96O

Then, ∠U < ∠A

By Hinge Theorem, <

THEOREM 6 : Converse of Hinge Theorem

If two sides of a triangle are congruent to two

sides of another triangle and the third side of
the first is longer than the third side of the
second, then the included angle in the first
triangle is greater than the included angle in the
second triangle.( May also be referred to as the
SSS Inequality Theorem)
Compare the length of ∠RNO and ∠CON

:
𝑂 𝑁 ≅ 𝑂𝑁
If = 29 and = 25
Then, >
By the Converse of Hinge Theorem,
Compare the length of ∠BER and ∠ARE

:
𝐸𝑅 ≅ 𝑅𝐸
If = 5 and = 7
Then, <

By the Converse of Hinge Theorem,

∠BER < ∠ARE
Given the lengths of the sides, identify the largest and
smallest angle in each triangle.

1. ∆ABC; AB=15, BC=8 and AC=12

Smallest angle - ∠𝐴
Largest angle - ∠𝐶
2. ∆DEF; DE=, EF= and FD=
Smallest angle - ∠𝐹
Largest angle - ∠𝐷
3. ∆JKL; JK=4.9, KL=4.09 and JL=5.2
Smallest angle - ∠ 𝐽
Largest angle - ∠𝐾
Given the measures of two angles , identify the longest
and shortest side in each triangle.

1. ∆ABC; m∠A=20O and m∠B=103O

Shortest side - 𝐵𝐶𝑜𝑟 𝐶𝐵
Longest side - 𝐴𝐶 𝑜𝑟 𝐶𝐴
2. ∆DEF; m∠D=17O and m∠F=53O
Shortest side - 𝐸𝐹 𝑜𝑟 𝐹𝐸
Longest side - 𝐷𝐹 𝑜𝑟 𝐹𝐷
3. ∆GHI; m∠H=50O and m∠I=100O
Shortest side - 𝐻𝐼 𝑜𝑟 𝐼𝐻
Longest side - 𝐺𝐻 𝑜𝑟 𝐻𝐺
Tell whether a triangle can be constructed with segments
having these lengths. Write YES or NO.

1. 6,8,19 NO

2. 4,10,11 YES

3. 4,4,7 YES
Applying Theorems on
Triangle Inequalities
Find the measure of the missing angles to name the shortest and
longest sides for each triangle.
m∠I + m ∠D + m ∠A =
180
90 + 2x + x + 15 = 180
105 + 3x = 180
3x = 180 – 105
3x = 75
3𝑥 75
= x = 25
3 3
Find the measure of the missing angles to name the shortest and
longest sides for each triangle.
m∠A = x + 15 m∠D = 2x
40O = 25 + 15 = 2(25)
= 40 = 50

Longest side - 𝐴𝐷
50O
Shortest side - 𝐼𝐷
Two sides of the triangle measures 11 and 8 respectively. Find the
range of the possible measures of the third side.

Step 1: Let x be the representation of the third side.

Step 2: Applying the Triangle Inequality Theorem,

11 + 8 > x 8 + x > 11 11 + x > 8 Negative

sides are
19 > x x > 11 – 8 x > 8 – 11
not
x>3 x>-3 possible.

Step 3: Rewriting 19 > x and x > 3 will be

3 < x < 19 19 > x > 3
Two sides of the triangle measures 11 and 8 respectively. Find the
range of the possible measures of the third side.

Shortcut Method:

Notice that the difference of 11 and 8 is 3. And the sum of 8 and

11 is 19. So you can do this shortcut.

11 – 8 < x < 11 + 8 11 + 8 > x > 11 – 8

3 < x < 19 19 > x > 3

Use the Exterior Angle Inequality Theorem to list all angles that satisfy
the given condition
1. Angles less than the m∠4.
∠2 and ∠3
By Exterior Angle Inequality Theorem the
remote interior
angles (∠2 and ∠3) are less than the
exterior angle (∠4).

2. Angles greater than m∠2.

∠4 and ∠5 By Exterior Angle Inequality
Theorem the exterior angles
(∠4 and ∠5) are greater
than the remote interior
angle (∠2).
Write an inequality, or set of inequalities, to describe the possible
values for x.
:
𝑅𝐸=18 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐶𝐴=16
m∠AEC = 20O and m∠RAE = (4X-4)O

4 𝑥 − 4> 20 4 𝑥 − 4< 180

4 𝑥> 24 4 𝑥<180 + 4
4𝑥
>
24 4 𝑥<184
4 4 4 𝑥 184
<
𝑥> 6 4 4
𝑥 < 46
Write an inequality, or set of inequalities, to describe the possible
values for x.
:
𝑅𝑁 ≅𝐸𝑁
𝑅 𝐴=8 𝑋 − 4 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐸𝐺=28
8 𝑥 − 4 >28
8 𝑥 >28+ 4
8 𝑥 >32
8𝑥 32
>
8 8
𝑥> 4