Constructing Triangles

Constructing Triangles printable sheet

Take a ten-sided die (or other random number generating tools - a pack of cards with the picture cards removed, a calculator, a phone app...) and generate three numbers. Construct a triangle using these three numbers as the side lengths.

If you're not sure how to use a ruler and compasses to construct a triangle given the lengths of its three sides, watch the video below:
 

Generate a few more sets of numbers and draw some more triangles.
What do you notice?

Here are some questions you might like to consider:

• Can you draw more than one triangle from each set of three numbers?
• When is it possible to construct a triangle from the three numbers generated?
• Is there a quick way to tell if it will be possible to construct a triangle?

Here is a game you could play:
Start with 10 points. Roll three dice. If a triangle can be drawn, you gain a point, if it can't, you lose a point. If you reach 20 points you win the game, if you reach 0 you lose.
Which is the more likely result?


Here is a game you could play with another person:
Player A chooses an integer length between 1 and 10cm. Player B randomly generates the lengths of the other two sides. If  a triangle can be drawn, Player B wins; otherwise they lose.
Is there a "best" length that Player A should choose?
Is this a fair game?


Now explore what happens if you generate 4 numbers and draw a quadrilateral.