Complete the inequality so that it represents the whole-number values that side a could be to create a triangle.
An illustration of a triangle shows an equation along the base as b equals 6 and the hypotenuse as c equals 7. The third side on the triangle is labeled as a.
___ < a < ___
6 < a < 7
explain
In a triangle, the length of any side must be greater than the positive difference between the lengths of the other two sides and less than the sum of the lengths of the other two sides.
In this case, side a must be greater than the positive difference between sides b and c (7 - 6 = 1) and less than the sum of sides b and c (6 + 7 = 13).
Therefore, the complete inequality for side a is 6 < a < 7.