Inequalities in a Triangle
So far, you have been mainly studying the equality of sides and angles of a triangle or triangles. Sometimes, we do come across unequal objects, we need to compare them.
For example, line-segment AB is greater in length as compared to line segment CD in Fig. 7.41 (i) and `∠ A` is greater than `∠ B` in Fig 7.41 (ii).
Let us now examine whether there is any relation between unequal sides and unequal angles of a triangle. For this, let us perform the following activity:
`color {blue} text(Activity) :` Fix two pins on a drawing board say at `B` and `C` and tie a thread to mark a side `BC` of a triangle.
Fix one end of another thread at `C` and tie a pencil at the other (free) end . Mark a point `A` with the pencil and draw `Delta ABC` (see Fig 7.42). Now, shift the pencil and mark another point A′ on `CA ` beyond A (new position of it)
So, `A′C > AC` (Comparing the lengths)
Join `A′` to `B` and complete the triangle `A′BC`.
What can you say about `∠ A′BC` and `∠ ABC?`
Compare them. What do you observe?
Clearly, `∠ A′BC > ∠ ABC`
Continue to mark more points on `CA` (extended) and draw the triangles with the side `BC` and the points marked.
You will observe that as the length of the side `AC` is increased (by taking different positions of A), the angle opposite to it, that is, `∠ B` also increases.
Let us now perform another activity :
`color{blue} text( Activity) :`
Construct a scalene triangle (that is a triangle in which all sides are of different lengths). Measure the lengths of the sides.
Now, measure the angles. What do you observe?
In `Delta ABC` of Fig `7.43, BC` is the longest side and `AC` is the shortest side.
Also, `∠ A` is the largest and `∠ B` is the smallest.
Repeat this activity with some other triangles.
We arrive at a very important result of inequalities in a triangle. It is stated in the form of a theorem as shown below:
`color{blue} text( Theorem 7.6) :`
If two sides of a triangle are unequal, the angle opposite to the longer side is larger (or greater).
You may prove this theorem by taking a point `P` on `BC` such that `CA = CP` in Fig. 7.43.
Now, let us perform another activity :
`color{blue} text( Activity) : `
Draw a line-segment `AB`. With `A` as centre and some radius, draw an arc and mark different points say `P, Q, R, S, T` on it.
Join each of these points with `A` as well as with B (see Fig. 7.44). Observe that as we move from `P` to `T, ∠ A` is becoming larger and larger. What is happening to the length of the side opposite to it? Observe that the length of the side is also increasing; that is `∠ TAB > ∠ SAB > ∠ RAB > ∠ QAB > ∠ PAB` and `TB > SB > RB > QB > PB`.
Now, draw any triangle with all angles unequal to each other. Measure the lengths of the sides (see Fig. 7.45).
Observe that the side opposite to the largest angle is the longest. In Fig. `7.45, ∠ B` is the largest angle and `AC` is the longest side.
Repeat this activity for some more triangles and we see that the converse of Theorem `7.6` is also true. In this way, we arrive at the following theorem:
` color{blue} text( Theorem 7.8) :`
The sum of any two sides of a triangle is greater than the third side.
In Fig. 7.46, observe that the side `BA` of `Delta ABC` has been produced to a point D such that `AD = AC`. Can you show that `∠ BCD > ∠ BDC` and `BA + AC > BC` ? Have you arrived at the proof of the above theorem.
Let us now take some examples based on these results.
For example, line-segment AB is greater in length as compared to line segment CD in Fig. 7.41 (i) and `∠ A` is greater than `∠ B` in Fig 7.41 (ii).
Let us now examine whether there is any relation between unequal sides and unequal angles of a triangle. For this, let us perform the following activity:
`color {blue} text(Activity) :` Fix two pins on a drawing board say at `B` and `C` and tie a thread to mark a side `BC` of a triangle.
Fix one end of another thread at `C` and tie a pencil at the other (free) end . Mark a point `A` with the pencil and draw `Delta ABC` (see Fig 7.42). Now, shift the pencil and mark another point A′ on `CA ` beyond A (new position of it)
So, `A′C > AC` (Comparing the lengths)
Join `A′` to `B` and complete the triangle `A′BC`.
What can you say about `∠ A′BC` and `∠ ABC?`
Compare them. What do you observe?
Clearly, `∠ A′BC > ∠ ABC`
Continue to mark more points on `CA` (extended) and draw the triangles with the side `BC` and the points marked.
You will observe that as the length of the side `AC` is increased (by taking different positions of A), the angle opposite to it, that is, `∠ B` also increases.
Let us now perform another activity :
`color{blue} text( Activity) :`
Construct a scalene triangle (that is a triangle in which all sides are of different lengths). Measure the lengths of the sides.
Now, measure the angles. What do you observe?
In `Delta ABC` of Fig `7.43, BC` is the longest side and `AC` is the shortest side.
Also, `∠ A` is the largest and `∠ B` is the smallest.
Repeat this activity with some other triangles.
We arrive at a very important result of inequalities in a triangle. It is stated in the form of a theorem as shown below:
`color{blue} text( Theorem 7.6) :`
If two sides of a triangle are unequal, the angle opposite to the longer side is larger (or greater).
You may prove this theorem by taking a point `P` on `BC` such that `CA = CP` in Fig. 7.43.
Now, let us perform another activity :
`color{blue} text( Activity) : `
Draw a line-segment `AB`. With `A` as centre and some radius, draw an arc and mark different points say `P, Q, R, S, T` on it.
Join each of these points with `A` as well as with B (see Fig. 7.44). Observe that as we move from `P` to `T, ∠ A` is becoming larger and larger. What is happening to the length of the side opposite to it? Observe that the length of the side is also increasing; that is `∠ TAB > ∠ SAB > ∠ RAB > ∠ QAB > ∠ PAB` and `TB > SB > RB > QB > PB`.
Now, draw any triangle with all angles unequal to each other. Measure the lengths of the sides (see Fig. 7.45).
Observe that the side opposite to the largest angle is the longest. In Fig. `7.45, ∠ B` is the largest angle and `AC` is the longest side.
Repeat this activity for some more triangles and we see that the converse of Theorem `7.6` is also true. In this way, we arrive at the following theorem:
` color{blue} text( Theorem 7.8) :`
The sum of any two sides of a triangle is greater than the third side.
In Fig. 7.46, observe that the side `BA` of `Delta ABC` has been produced to a point D such that `AD = AC`. Can you show that `∠ BCD > ∠ BDC` and `BA + AC > BC` ? Have you arrived at the proof of the above theorem.
Let us now take some examples based on these results.
