Activity Overview
In this activity, students will explore the concepts underlying the Triangle Inequality Theorem by comparing side lengths and angle measures of a triangle. They will use an interactive construction to see why this theorem is true.
Before the Activity
Install the Cabri Jr. App on the students' graphing calculators using TI Connect™, a TI Connectivity Cable and the Unit-to-Unit Link Cable
Use the TI-Navigator™ to transfer the attached Cabri Jr. AppVar files to each calculator
See the attached PDF file for detailed instructions for this activity
Print pages 91 - 93 from the attached PDF file for your class
During the Activity
Distribute the pages to your class.
Follow the Activity procedures:
Use the AppVar to go directly to the exploration section
Draw a triangle and measure its angles and sides
Observe the relationship between the angle measures and the length of the side opposite the angle
Construct a special triangle with its first vertex as the center of a circle, its second vertex as a point within the circle, and its third vertex as a point on the circle
Observe the relationship among the three sides of a triangle
After the Activity
Review student results:
As a class, discuss questions that appeared to be more challenging
Re-teach concepts as necessary