The Triangle Inequality Theorem states that for any triangle with sides \(a\), \(b\), and \(c\), the following inequalities must hold:
- \(a + b > c\)
- \(a + c > b\)
- \(b + c > a\)
In this case, let's denote the two sides of the triangle as \(a = 3.7\) and \(b = 8.2\), and let \(c\) be the length of the third side.
Using the Triangle Inequality Theorem:
-
From the first inequality:
\(3.7 + 8.2 > c\)
\(11.9 > c\)
or \(c < 11.9\) -
From the second inequality:
\(3.7 + c > 8.2\)
\(c > 8.2 - 3.7\)
\(c > 4.5\) -
From the third inequality:
\(8.2 + c > 3.7\)
\(c > 3.7 - 8.2\)
\(c > -4.5\) (This is always true for a positive side length, so we don't need this condition.)
Now we combine the results from the first two inequalities. The third side \(c\) must satisfy:
\[ 4.5 < c < 11.9 \]
From the provided options (4.5, 3.5, 5.5, 4.2):
- 4.5 is not valid, as it must be greater than 4.5.
- 3.5 is not valid as it is less than 4.5.
- 5.5 is valid as it is between 4.5 and 11.9.
- 4.2 is not valid as it is less than 4.5.
Thus, a possible measure of the third side is 5.5.