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Use a compass to make sure both sides of your angle have a length of 5 centimeters.
If you connect the ends of the sides you drew to make a triangle, is the third side longer or shorter than 5 centimeters? How can you use a compass to explain your answer?
Draw as many different triangles as you can with each of these sets of conditions:
One angle measures
Two sides measure 6 cm, and one angle measures
Did either of these sets of measurements determine one unique triangle? How do you know?
Draw as many different triangles as you can with each of these sets of measurements:
One angle measures
One angle measures
Did either of these sets of measurements determine one unique triangle? How do you know?
A triangle has six measures: three side lengths and three angle measures.
If we are given three measures, then sometimes there is no triangle that can be made. For example, there is no triangle with side lengths 1, 2, 5, and there is no triangle with all three angles measuring
Sometimes, only one triangle can be made. By this we mean that any triangle we make will be the same, having the same six measures. For example, if a triangle can be made with three given side lengths, then the corresponding angles will have the same measures. Another example is shown here: an angle measuring
Sometimes, two or more different triangles can be made with three given measures. For example, here are two different triangles that can be made with an angle measuring
Three pieces of information about a triangle’s side lengths and angle measures may determine no triangles, one unique triangle, or more than one triangle. It depends on the information.