1) a. In acute triangle ABC, we know AB = 7, BC = 8, and that Line{CA} is the shortest side. What is the smallest possible integer value of CA?
The angle opposite the longest side must be < 90°
Therefore
√[ CA^2 + 7^2 ] > 8^2
CA^2 + 49 > 64
CA^2 > 15
CA > 3.8
So....the smallest possible integer value of CA is 4
b. In obtuse triangle ABC, we know AB = 7, BC = 8, and that Line{CA} is the longest side. What is the smallest possible integer value of CA?
We must have that
AB^2 + BC^2 < CA^2
7^2 + 8^2 < CA^2
49 + 64 < CA^2
113 < CA^2 take the square root of both sides
10.63 < CA ⇒ CA > 10.3
So....the shortest integer side length for CA is 11
2) a.Two diagonals of a parallelogram have lengths 6 and 8. What is the largest possible length of the shortest side of the parallelogram?
The diagonals will bisect each other.....so we have a triangle with sides of 3 and 4
The largest possible (integer) length of the shortest side, S, of the parallellogram must be
3 + S > 4
S > 1
So...the largest possible (integer) length of the shortest side is 2
b. Two sides of an acute triangle are 8 and 15. How many possible lengths are there for the third side if it is an integer?
Let S be the missing side...so we have....
S + 8 > 15
S > 7 so the shortest integer length is 8
But also...since it's an acute triangle, the longest possible side is
√ [ 8^2 + 15^2 ] > S
17 > S ⇒ S < 17
So....the greatest possible integer length of S is 16
So...the number of possible lengths is 16 - 8 + 1 = 9