The lengths of two sides of a triangle are 33 units and 42 units. The third side also has an integral length. What is the least possible number of units in the perimeter of the triangle?
42 -33 + 1 = 10 units - the 3rd side.
10 + 33 + 42 = 85 units - the perimeter of the triangle.
In a triangle the difference of any 2 sides must be greater than the lenght of the third side.
Otherwise the 3 sides will not be able to join together!
Try drawing triangles on a peice of paper and try to be comfortable that this is the truth.
So
42-33= 9
the third side must be more than 9.
Since it has an integer length, it's smallest vaue must be 10.
The perimeter is the sum of all the sides
42+33+9 is going to be the smallest possible perimeter.