Calculating the Length of Each Side of the Triangle

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 90 views

Introduction

In geometry, a triangle is a polygon with three sides and three vertices. The length of each side of a triangle can be calculated using the distance formula, which is derived from the Pythagorean theorem. In this article, we will discuss how to calculate the length of each side of a triangle using the distance formula and apply it to a given triangle with vertices at coordinates (2,3), (9,1), and (12,14).

The Distance Formula

The distance formula is a mathematical formula that calculates the distance between two points in a coordinate plane. It is given by:

d = \sqrt{(x_2 - x_1)^2 + (y_2 - y_1)^2}

where $d$ is the distance between the two points, and $(x_1, y_1)$ and $(x_2, y_2)$ are the coordinates of the two points.

Calculating the Length of Each Side of the Triangle

To calculate the length of each side of the triangle, we will use the distance formula. We will first calculate the length of side AB, then the length of side BC, and finally the length of side AC.

Calculating the Length of Side AB

To calculate the length of side AB, we will use the distance formula with the coordinates of points A and B.

AB = \sqrt{(9 - 2)^2 + (1 - 3)^2}

AB = \sqrt{(7)^2 + (-2)^2}

AB = \sqrt{49 + 4}

AB = \sqrt{53}

Calculating the Length of Side BC

To calculate the length of side BC, we will use the distance formula with the coordinates of points B and C.

BC = \sqrt{(12 - 9)^2 + (14 - 1)^2}

BC = \sqrt{(3)^2 + (13)^2}

BC = \sqrt{9 + 169}

BC = \sqrt{178}

Calculating the Length of Side AC

To calculate the length of side AC, we will use the distance formula with the coordinates of points A and C.

AC = \sqrt{(12 - 2)^2 + (14 - 3)^2}

AC = \sqrt{(10)^2 + (11)^2}

AC = \sqrt{100 + 121}

AC = \sqrt{221}

Conclusion

$In this article, we discussed how to calculate the length of each side of a triangle using the distance formula. We applied the formula to a given triangle with vertices at coordinates (2,3), (9,1), and (12,14) and calculated the length of each side. The length of side AB is $\sqrt{53}$, the length of side BC is $\sqrt{178}$, and the length of side AC is $\sqrt{221}$.<br/> **Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Calculating the Length of Each Side of a Triangle**$

Q: What is the distance formula?

A: The distance formula is a mathematical formula that calculates the distance between two points in a coordinate plane. It is given by:

d = \sqrt{(x_2 - x_1)^2 + (y_2 - y_1)^2}

where $d$ is the distance between the two points, and $(x_1, y_1)$ and $(x_2, y_2)$ are the coordinates of the two points.

Q: How do I calculate the length of each side of a triangle?

A: To calculate the length of each side of a triangle, you will need to use the distance formula for each pair of points that make up the side. For example, to calculate the length of side AB, you will need to use the distance formula with the coordinates of points A and B.

Q: What if I have a triangle with coordinates that are not integers?

A: The distance formula will still work even if the coordinates are not integers. You will simply need to plug in the coordinates into the formula and calculate the result.

Q: Can I use the distance formula to calculate the length of a diagonal of a rectangle?

A: Yes, you can use the distance formula to calculate the length of a diagonal of a rectangle. Simply use the coordinates of the two opposite corners of the rectangle in the distance formula.

Q: How do I know if a triangle is a right triangle?

A: To determine if a triangle is a right triangle, you can use the Pythagorean theorem, which states that in a right triangle, the square of the length of the hypotenuse (the side opposite the right angle) is equal to the sum of the squares of the lengths of the other two sides.

Q: Can I use the distance formula to calculate the length of a side of a triangle that is not a right triangle?

A: Yes, you can use the distance formula to calculate the length of a side of a triangle that is not a right triangle. Simply use the coordinates of the two points that make up the side in the distance formula.

Q: What if I have a triangle with coordinates that are in a different coordinate system?

A: The distance formula will still work even if the coordinates are in a different coordinate system. You will simply need to convert the coordinates to the standard coordinate system (x, y) before plugging them into the formula.

Q: Can I use the distance formula to calculate the length of a side of a triangle that is in 3D space?

A: Yes, you can use the distance formula to calculate the length of a side of a triangle that is in 3D space. However, you will need to use the 3D version of the distance formula, which is given by:

d = \sqrt{(x_2 - x_1)^2 + (y_2 - y_1)^2 + (z_2 - z_1)^2}

where $d$ is the distance between the two points, and $(x_1, y_1, z_1)$ and $(x_2, y_2, z_2)$ are the coordinates of the two points.

Conclusion

In this article, we answered some frequently asked questions about calculating the length of each side of a triangle using the distance formula. We hope that this article has been helpful in clarifying any confusion you may have had about the distance formula and its application to triangles.