# [SOLVED]Length of Shortest Side In a Triangle

#### anemone

##### MHB POTW Director
Staff member
If $a,\,b$ and $c$ are the sides of a triangle $ABC$, prove that if $a^2+b^2>5c^2$, then $c$ is the length of the shortest side.

#### MarkFL

Staff member
Suppose we assume:

$$\displaystyle a>c\implies a^2>c^2$$

$$\displaystyle b>c\implies b^2>c^2$$

These two conditions also imply:

$$\displaystyle ab>c^2$$

Adding the three implications, we obtain:

$$\displaystyle a^2+ab+b^2>3c^2$$

The triangle inequality implies:

$$\displaystyle a^2+2ab+b^2>c^2$$

And, we are given:

$$\displaystyle a^2+b^2>5c^2$$

Adding these last two, there results:

$$\displaystyle a^2+ab+b^2>3c^2$$

As we initially found, this is the result of assuming both $$a$$ and $$b$$ are greater than $$c$$.

#### anemone

##### MHB POTW Director
Staff member
Good job, MarkFL ! And thanks for participating!

Solution of other:
Assume that $c$ is not the shortest side. Therefore we have $a\le c$, or $a^2 \le c^2$.

Adding $c$ to both sides, and square them yields $(a+c)^2\le 4c^2$.

By the triangle inequality we have $b<a+c$ and hence $b^2<(a+c)^2\le 4c^2$.

We then get $a^2+b^2<5c^2$, which reach to a contradiction and therefore, our assumption is wrong and $c$ is the length of the shortest side of the triangle.

##### Well-known member
Suppose we assume:

$$\displaystyle a>c\implies a^2>c^2$$

$$\displaystyle b>c\implies b^2>c^2$$

These two conditions also imply:

$$\displaystyle ab>c^2$$

Adding the three implications, we obtain:

$$\displaystyle a^2+ab+b^2>3c^2$$

The triangle inequality implies:

$$\displaystyle a^2+2ab+b^2>c^2$$

And, we are given:

$$\displaystyle a^2+b^2>5c^2$$

Adding these last two, there results:

$$\displaystyle a^2+ab+b^2>3c^2$$

As we initially found, this is the result of assuming both $$a$$ and $$b$$ are greater than $$c$$.
Hello Mark

You have assumed c being the shortest side and you have taken the given condition as well. So I am not convinced that
the proof is right. You have taken both the condition and assumption and proved it.

If I have missed something kindly let me know.

#### MarkFL

Staff member
Hello Mark

You have assumed c being the shortest side and you have taken the given condition as well. So I am not convinced that
the proof is right. You have taken both the condition and assumption and proved it.

If I have missed something kindly let me know.

I have assumed that $$c$$ is the shortest side and shown how it leads to an implication provided both by the given and the triangle inequality. It seems to me this is sufficient. Is it not?

##### Well-known member
I have assumed that $$c$$ is the shortest side and shown how it leads to an implication provided both by the given and the triangle inequality. It seems to me this is sufficient. Is it not?

But does not prove that this is not true if c is not the shortest side which we need to prove

#### MarkFL

Staff member
But does not prove that this is not true if c is not the shortest side which we need to prove
My apologies. You are absolutely correct. Suppose I arranged things in the following manner:

The triangle inequality implies:

$$\displaystyle a^2+2ab+b^2>c^2$$

And, we are given:

$$\displaystyle a^2+b^2>5c^2$$

$$\displaystyle a^2+ab+b^2>3c^2$$
Now, suppose $$a=3b$$ and $$c=2b$$:
$$\displaystyle 9b^2+3b^2+b^2>12b^2$$
$$\displaystyle 13b^2>12b^2$$
This is true, even though $$c>b$$. I'll try to come up with a sound solution.