SOLUTION: One side of a triangle is 8 inches and the other two sides are each equal to a positive whole number of inches. What is the smallest possible perimeter of the triangle? A)9 B)1

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Question 1144825: One side of a triangle is 8 inches and the other two sides are each equal to a positive whole number of inches. What is the smallest possible perimeter of the triangle?
A)9
B)10
C)11
D)17
Found 2 solutions by Edwin McCravy, josmiceli:
Answer by Edwin McCravy(20056)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
We have one side as 8.  By the triangular inequality, the other two sides must
have a larger sum than 8.  So the smallest their sum can be is 9.  So the smallest
possible perimeter is 8+9=17.

There are four possible triangles with that perimeter and positive whole numbers
for sides.  They are:

1,8,8 (an isosceles triangle)
2,7,8
3,6,8
4,5,8

In each case the perimeter is 17.

Edwin
Answer by josmiceli(19441)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Lay the given side down flat, as if on a table.
the sum of the other 2 sides can't be
inches, since that would just give you a straight line,
so the sum of the other 2 sides must be inches
and
The answer is D)
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