Question

1. Determine if the following three sides form a triangle. If so classify the triangle as acute, obtuse, or right.15, 20, 17

Answer 1

Ok, so

When given 3 triangle sides, to determine if the triangle is acute, right or obtuse, we have to do the following steps:

1. Square all 3 sides.

2. Sum the squares of the 2 shortest sides.

3. Compare this sum to the square of the 3rd side.

Then, we have to analyze the following conditions:

- if sum > 3rd side², the triangle is an acute triangle.

- if sum = 3rd side², the triangle is a right triangle.

- if sum < 3rd side², the triangle is an obtuse triangle.

Now, we have a triangle with these three sides: 15, 17, and 20.

First, let's find the sum of the square of the 2 shortest sides, which is

15² + 17² = 514

Now, the square of the 3rd side² is 400.

Note that 514 > 400!

Finally, these three sides form an acute triangle.