Question

Janice has 5 sticks of lengths 2,4,6,8, and 10 inches. using three sticks at a time as the sides of triangles, how many triangles can she make? explain?

Answer 1

Question #21623

Janice has 5 sticks of lengths 2,4,6,8, and 10 inches. using three sticks at a time as the sides of triangles, how many triangles can she make? Explain?

Solution

We can build triangle only when each side is smaller than the sum of two other/ So,

1) triangle with the sides: 4, 6, 8 inches, because $4<6+8$; $6<4+8$; $8<4+6$;

2) triangle with the sides: 4, 8, 10 inches, because $4<10+8$; $10<4+8$; $8<4+10$;

3) triangle with the sides: 10, 6, 8 inches, because $8<6+10$; $6<10+8$; $10<8+6$;

Answer: She can make three triangles.