Triangles

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GMAT Quantitative › Triangles

Questions 1 - 10
1

A triangle has 2 sides length 5 and 12. Which of the following could be the perimeter of the triangle?

I. 20

II. 25

III. 30

II and III only.

I only

III only

I and II only

All 3 are possible.

Explanation

For a triangle, the sum of the two shortest sides must be greater than that of the longest. We are given two sides as 5 and 12. Our third side must be greater than 7, since if it were smaller than that we would have where is the unknown side. It must also be smaller than 17 since were it larger, we would have .

Thus our perimeter will be between and . Only II and III are in this range.

2

is an isosceles triangle with perimeter 43; the length of each of its sides can be given by a prime whole number. What is the greatest possible length of its longest side?

This triangle cannot exist.

Explanation

We are looking for ways to add three primes to yield a sum of 43. Two or all three (since an equilateral triangle is considered isosceles) must be equal (although, since 43 is not a multiple of three, only two can be equal).

We will set the shared sidelength of the congruent sides to each prime number in turn up to 19:

By the Triangle Inequality, the sum of the lengths of the shortest two sides must exceed that of the greatest. We can therefore eliminate the first three. , , and include numbers that are not prime (21, 15, 9). This leaves us with only one possibility:

- greatest length 19

19 is the correct choice.

3

The lengths of the sides of a scalene triangle are all prime numbers, and so is the perimeter of the triangle. What is the least possible perimeter of the triangle?

Explanation

A scalene triangle has three sides of different lengths, so we are looking for three distinct prime integers whose sum is a prime integer.

One of the sides cannot be 2, since the sum of 2 and two odd primes would be an even number greater than 2, a composite number. Therefore, beginning with the least three odd primes, add increasing triples of distinct prime numbers, as follows, until a solution presents itself:

- incorrect

- correct

The correct answer, 19, presents itself quickly.

4

is a scalene triangle with perimeter 33; the length of each of its sides can be given by a prime whole number. What is the greatest possible length of its longest side?

This triangle cannot exist.

Explanation

By trial and error, we get four ways to add distinct primes to yield sum 33:

In each case, however the Triangle Inequality is violated - the sum of the two shortest lengths does not exceed the third.

No triangle can exist as described.

5

is an isosceles triangle with perimeter 43; the length of each of its sides can be given by a prime whole number. What is the greatest possible length of its longest side?

This triangle cannot exist.

Explanation

We are looking for ways to add three primes to yield a sum of 43. Two or all three (since an equilateral triangle is considered isosceles) must be equal (although, since 43 is not a multiple of three, only two can be equal).

We will set the shared sidelength of the congruent sides to each prime number in turn up to 19:

By the Triangle Inequality, the sum of the lengths of the shortest two sides must exceed that of the greatest. We can therefore eliminate the first three. , , and include numbers that are not prime (21, 15, 9). This leaves us with only one possibility:

- greatest length 19

19 is the correct choice.

6

A triangle has 2 sides length 5 and 12. Which of the following could be the perimeter of the triangle?

I. 20

II. 25

III. 30

II and III only.

I only

III only

I and II only

All 3 are possible.

Explanation

For a triangle, the sum of the two shortest sides must be greater than that of the longest. We are given two sides as 5 and 12. Our third side must be greater than 7, since if it were smaller than that we would have where is the unknown side. It must also be smaller than 17 since were it larger, we would have .

Thus our perimeter will be between and . Only II and III are in this range.

7

A given right triangle has a base length and a height . What is the area of the triangle?

Not enough information to solve

Explanation

For a given right triangle with a side length and a height , the area is

. Plugging in the values provided:

8

What is the area of a triangle on the coordinate plane with its vertices on the points ?

Explanation

The vertical segment connecting and can be seen as the base of this triangle; this base has length . The height is the perpendicular (horizontal) distance from to this segment, which is 6, the same as the -coordinate of this point. The area of the triangle is therefore

.

9

Two angles of an isosceles triangle measure and . What are the possible values of ?

Explanation

In an isosceles triangle, at least two angles measure the same. Therefore, one of three things happens:

Case 1: The two given angles have the same measure.

The angle measures are , making the triangle equianglular and, subsequently, equilateral. An equilateral triangle is considered isosceles, so this is a possible scenario.

Case 2: The third angle has measure .

Then, since the sum of the angle measures is 180,

as before

Case 3: The third angle has measure

as before.

Thus, the only possible value of is 40.

10

is a scalene triangle with perimeter 30. . Which of the following cannot be equal to ?

Explanation

The three sides of a scalene triangle have different measures. One measure cannot have is 12, but this is not a choice.

It cannot be true that . Since the perimeter is

, we can find out what other value can be eliminated as follows:

Therefore, if , then , and the triangle is not scalene. 9 is the correct choice.

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