In △XYZ, m∠X = 27° and m∠Y = 48°. Which gives the sides of the triangle in order from shortest to longest?

A. 𝑌𝑍⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯,𝑋𝑍⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯,𝑋𝑌⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
B. 𝑋𝑌⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯,𝑌𝑍⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯,𝑋𝑍⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
C. 𝑋𝑍⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯,𝑌𝑍⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯,𝑋𝑌⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
D. 𝑋𝑌⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯,𝑋𝑍⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯,𝑌𝑍⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯

1 answer

To determine the order of the sides of triangle XYZ from shortest to longest, we first need to find the measure of angle Z using the fact that the sum of the angles in a triangle is always 180°.

We have:

  • \( m∠X = 27° \)
  • \( m∠Y = 48° \)

Now, we calculate \( m∠Z \): \[ m∠Z = 180° - m∠X - m∠Y \] \[ m∠Z = 180° - 27° - 48° = 180° - 75° = 105° \]

Now we know:

  • \( m∠X = 27° \)
  • \( m∠Y = 48° \)
  • \( m∠Z = 105° \)

In any triangle, the side opposite the largest angle is the longest, and the side opposite the smallest angle is the shortest.

  • Angle X (27°) is the smallest, so the side opposite it, which is \( YZ \), is the shortest.
  • Angle Y (48°) is the next largest, so the side opposite it, which is \( XZ \), is the next largest.
  • Angle Z (105°) is the largest, so the side opposite it, which is \( XY \), is the longest.

Thus, the order of the sides from shortest to longest is:

  1. \( YZ \) (shortest)
  2. \( XZ \) (middle)
  3. \( XY \) (longest)

Therefore, the correct answer is:

A. \( YZ \), \( XZ \), \( XY \).