Triangles and Sides


Problem
Given are 3 lines with lengths a, b and c.
Which conditions enable the construction of a triangle having a,b and c as sides?

Refer to figure 1. below.
The triangle has c as base. Angle C is the intersection of the circles with radii a and b,
and centres A and B.
    fig.1

now look at figure 2.
    fig.2

In fig.1, the construction of a triangle was possible. In fig.2 it is not.
The reason is clear : in fig. 2 , a en b together are smaller than c.

De condition therefore can be written as the inequality :
    c < a + b
Of course, also must be valid::
    a < b + c .............and
    b < a + c
The following is funny:

If we call s half the perimeter of the triangle, then:
    a + b + c = 2s

    starting with the inequality

    a < b + c...............we may write (left and right : add a)
    2a < a + b + c
    2a < 2s.................so
    a < s
This should be true for b and c as well, so we state:
    every side of a triangle must be smaller then half of the perimeter
Another nice problem
Given is a equilateral triangle containing an arbitrary point P.
From P, we add lines PA = a, PB = b and PC = c.

Prove, that a, b and c always may be sides of a triangle.
See figure 3 below:
    fig.3

Solution 1.
ABC is equilateral, assume it's sides have length z.
We observe:
    a < z ...................and also
    z < b + c
    ...........................combining:
    a < b + c
and similar:
    b < a + c
    c < a + b
Which concludes the proof.

Solution 2.
We rotate the triangle by 60 degrees, A being the centre of the rotation.
So B arrives in C, C becomes C' en P becomes P'. see figure 4.
    fig.4

Triangle APP' is equilateral because LP'AP is 60 degrees and P'A = PA = a,
so LPP'A = LP'PA = 60 degrees.
So PP'= a and we notice that triangle CPP' has sides a,b and c.
Quite surprising.