The lengths of the sides of triangle ABC are 3 cm, 4cm, and 6 cm. How do you determine the least possible perimeter of a triangle similar to triangle ABC which has one side of length 12 cm?

2 Answers
Sep 5, 2017

26cm

Explanation:

we want a triangle with shorter sides (smaller perimeter) and we got 2 similar triangles , since triangles are similar the corresponding sides would be in ratio.

To get triangle of shorter perimeter we have to use the longest side of triangle ABCABC put 6cm side corresponding to 12cm side.
Let triangle ABC ~ triangle DEFABC~DEF

6cm side corresponding to 12 cm side .
therefore, (AB)/(DE)=(BC)/(EF)=(CA)/(FD)=1/2ABDE=BCEF=CAFD=12
So the perimeter of ABC is half of the perimeter of DEF .
perimeter of DEF = 2×(3+4+6)=2×13=26cm2×(3+4+6)=2×13=26cm
answer 26 cm.

Sep 5, 2017

26cm26cm

Explanation:

Similar triangles have the same shape because they have the same angles.

They are of different sizes, but their sides are in the same ratio.

In Delta ABC, the sides are " "3" ":" "4" ":" "6

For the smallest perimeter of the other triangle, the longest side must be 12cm. The sides will therefore all be twice as long.

Delta ABC:" "3" ":" "4" ":" "6
New Delta:" "6" ":" "8" ":" "12

The perimeter of Delta ABC = 6+4+3 = 13cm

The perimeter of the second triangle will be 13xx2 = 26cm

This can be confirmed by adding the sides:

6+8+12 = 26cm