document.write( "Question 1043725: Four segments measure 16, 19, 43 and 50 centimeters. What is the probability that a triangle can be formed if three of these segments are chosen at random? \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #658949 by Edwin McCravy(20060)![]() ![]() You can put this solution on YOUR website! \r\n" ); document.write( "A scalene triangle can be formed if and only if the two \r\n" ); document.write( "shorter sides added together is greater than the longest \r\n" ); document.write( "side. Since 16 and 19 only add to give 35, and the other \r\n" ); document.write( "two numbers are greater than that, both 16 and 19 cannot\r\n" ); document.write( "be sides of the same triangle. So the only way that they \r\n" ); document.write( "can form a triangle is to select one of those for the\r\n" ); document.write( "shortest side and the two largest ones for the other two\r\n" ); document.write( "sides.\r\n" ); document.write( "\r\n" ); document.write( "{16,43,50} or {19,43,50}\r\n" ); document.write( "\r\n" ); document.write( "But the number of ways to choose any three is\r\n" ); document.write( "\r\n" ); document.write( "4 numbers Choose 3 = 4C3 = 4\r\n" ); document.write( "\r\n" ); document.write( "So the probability is 2 ways out of 4 or 2/4 or 1/2.\r\n" ); document.write( "\r\n" ); document.write( "Edwin\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " |