Activity Overview
In this activity, students investigate properties of triangles by randomly generating possible side lengths for triangles. They learn to determine if three line segments can form a triangle. They also learn to classify triangles as acute, obtuse, right, scalene, isosceles, and equilateral triangles. They gain an understanding of the Pythagorean theorem.
Before the Activity
See the attached PDF file for detailed instructions for this activity
Print pages 13 - 18 from the attached PDF file for your class
During the Activity
Distribute the pages to the class.
Follow the Activity procedures:
Randomly generate 3 numbers between 1 and 6 using the roll dice program on the calculator
Use the three numbers as side lengths, cut straws to form these lengths and create a triangle
Keep a tally of the three numbers that could be used to make triangles and those that could not make a triangle
Classify triangles as equilateral if all sides are congruent, as isosceles if two sides are congruent, and as scalene if no two sides are congruent
Classify the triangles as acute if all angles of the triangle are below 90 degrees
Classify the triangle as obtuse if triangle has an angle greater than 90 degrees and has 2 acute angles
Classify triangles as right triangles if the triangle has an angle of 90 degrees and two acute angles
Test for a Pythagorean triplet using the side lengths of different triangles and find the right, acute, and obtuse triangles
Combine class data and create a list of all triangles (28 triangles) possible with a side of 1", 2", 3", 4", 5", and 6"
Use the triangle inequality rule to test the triangles
Classify the triangles by their sides and angles
After the Activity
Students will complete the Worksheet and analyze the results.
Review student results:
As a class, discuss questions that appeared to be more challenging
Re-teach concepts as necessary