Difference between revisions of "Triangle Inequality"

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The Triangle Inequality can also be extended to other [[polygon]]s.  The lengths <math>a_1, a_2, \ldots, a_n</math> can only be the sides of a nondegenerate <math>n</math>-gon if <math>a_i < a_1 + \ldots + a_{i -1} + a_{i + 1} + \ldots + a_n = \left(\sum_{j=1}^n a_j\right) - a_i</math> for <math>i = 1, 2 \ldots, n</math>.
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The Triangle Inequality can also be extended to other [[polygon]]s.  The lengths <math>a_1, a_2, \ldots, a_n</math> can only be the sides of a nondegenerate <math>n</math>-gon if <math>a_i < a_1 + \ldots + a_{i -1} + a_{i + 1} + \ldots + a_n = \left(\sum_{j=1}^n a_j\right) - a_i</math> for <math>i = 1, 2 \ldots, n</math>.  Expressing the inequality in this form leads to <math>2a_i < P</math>, where <math>P</math> is the sum of the <math>a_j</math>, or <math>a_j < \frac{P}{2}</math>.  Stated in another way, this says that in every polygon, each side must be smaller than the [[semiperimeter]].  
  
  

Revision as of 14:41, 17 August 2006

The Triangle Inequality says that in a nondegenerate triangle $\displaystyle ABC$:

$\displaystyle AB + BC > AC$

$\displaystyle BC + AC > AB$

$\displaystyle AC + AB > BC$

That is, the sum of the lengths of any two sides is larger than the length of the third side. In degenerate triangles, the strict inequality must be replaced by "greater than or equal to."


The Triangle Inequality can also be extended to other polygons. The lengths $a_1, a_2, \ldots, a_n$ can only be the sides of a nondegenerate $n$-gon if $a_i < a_1 + \ldots + a_{i -1} + a_{i + 1} + \ldots + a_n = \left(\sum_{j=1}^n a_j\right) - a_i$ for $i = 1, 2 \ldots, n$. Expressing the inequality in this form leads to $2a_i < P$, where $P$ is the sum of the $a_j$, or $a_j < \frac{P}{2}$. Stated in another way, this says that in every polygon, each side must be smaller than the semiperimeter.


Example Problems

Introductory Problems

See Also

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