Question

A triangle has two sides of length 2 and 18. What is the smallest possible whole-number length for the third side?

Answer 1

smallest possible whole-number length for the third side = 19

Explanation:

let x be the length of the third side

the sum of any two sides of a triangle is always greater than the third side, i.e.

2 + 18 > x

20 > x

x = 19

thus,

smallest possible whole-number length for the third side = 19