Gemma wants to draw a triangle with side lengths of 4 inches, 12 inches, and 17 inches. Which statement is true? This triangle e
xists because the sum of any two side lengths is greater than the length of the third side. This triangle exists because the sum of 4 and 12 is less than 17. This triangle does not exist because the sum of any two side lengths is greater than the length of the third side. This triangle does not exist because the sum of 4 and 12 is less than 17.
The triangle inequality states that the sum of the lengths of the two shortest sides of a triangle must be greater than the length of the largest side. Because 4 + 12 > 17 is not a true statement, the answer is "This triangle does not exist because the sum of 4 and 12 is less than 17."