Perimeter of a Triangle, Formula and Solved Examples

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Shekhar Suman

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Triangles are closed polygons with three sides. These are formed when three lines intersect. It is a fundamental geometric shape. Three sides, three angles, and three vertices make up the triangle. The sum of all the three angles in a triangle is always equal to 180°. The length of the sides of a triangle can be the same or different. The total length of the sides of a triangle is known as it’s perimeter. It's the sum of all the sies or edges of a triangle.

Therefore, the Perimeter of a triangle is:

Perimeter = Sum of all three sides

Key Takeaways: Triangles, Perimeter, Equilateral, Scalene, Isosceles


Types of Triangles

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Triangles are classified into three categories based on their sides:

  • A triangle that has all three sides of equal length is known as an equilateral triangle. All angles in an equilateral triangle are of 60o.
  • An isosceles triangle is defined as a triangle with any two sides that are equal. The vertices opposing the equal sides of an isosceles triangle have two equal angles.
  • A Scalene Triangle is one in which the lengths of all three sides are varied. As a result, the angles have varied measurements.

Also Check: Types of Triangles


Properties of Triangles

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The key properties of triangles are mentioned below:

  • A triangle has three sides, which can be of the same length or different.
  • The length of the third side of a triangle is always greater than the sum of the length of the other two sides.
  • The difference between any two sides of a triangle is always lesser than the third side of the triangle.
  • The total measure of the three angles of a triangle would always be equal to 180 degrees.
  • The exterior angle of the third side of a triangle is equal to the sum of two internal angles.

Certain requirements must be met in order for a triangle to exist. One of the following three conditions must be true for any triangle.

  • a + b > c
  • b + c > a
  • c + a > b

Also Read: Congruence of Triangles


Perimeter of a Scalene Triangle

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A triangle's perimeter is the total sum of all its sides. If a, b, and c are the lengths of the triangle's sides, then:

Scalene triangle perimeter = a + b + c

where, 

a, b and c are the lengths of the three sides of the triangle.

Scalene triangle


Perimeter of an Isosceles Triangle

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If two equal sides of an isosceles triangle are of length 'a’ units and the length of an unequal side is equal to 'b', then:

Isosceles triangle perimeter = a + a + b = 2a + b

where,

The length of two equal sides is a and the third side length is b.

isosceles triangle


Perimeter of an Equilateral Triangle

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All sides of an equilateral triangle are of the same length, therefore a = b = c.

Hence,

Equilateral triangle perimeter = a + a + a = 3a

where,

The side length is denoted by the letter a.

equilateral triangle

Read: Triangles Important Questions


Things to Remember

  • Triangles are two-dimensional polygonal figures with three sides and three angles. 
  • The perimeter of a triangle is the total length of its sides. 
  • The perimeter of a Triangle = Sum of the lengths of all sides of the triangle.
  • There are three types of triangles: Equilateral, Scalene, and Isosceles.

Sample Questions

Ques.: What is the perimeter of a triangle whose sides are 4cm, 5cm, and 6cm in length? (2 marks)

Ans.: The triangle's sides are 4cm, 5cm, and 6cm, respectively. As a result, it's a scalene triangle.

Therefore, the triangle's perimeter equals the sum of its sides, which is 4 + 5 + 6 = 15cm.

Ques.: If the length of the unequal side is 5cm and the perimeter is 17cm, find the length of two equal sides of an isosceles triangle.  (3 marks)

The unequal side's length is 5cm, and the perimeter is 17cm.

Ans.: Because it's an isosceles triangle, the lengths of the other two sides are the same. Let’s consider 'a' units to be equal side length of the triangle.

As a result, perimeter = a + a + 5

We can write, (since the perimeter is 17cm)

a + a + 5 = 17

17 = 2a + 5

12 = 2a

12 = 2a

As a result, the equal sides of the isosceles triangle are 6cm long.

Ques.: Calculate the perimeter of a triangle with 6 cm, 8 cm, and 12 cm sides.  (2 marks)

Ans.: Assume a = 6 cm, b = 8 cm, and c = 12 cm.

Triangle Perimeter = a + b + c 

= 6 + 8 + 12 

= 26 cm

Ques.: Calculate the perimeter of an equilateral triangle with a 6 cm side.  (2 marks)

Ans.: All of the sides of an equilateral triangle are equal.

As a result, the equilateral triangle's perimeter = a + b + c 

 = a + a + a 

 = 3a 

= 3 x a 

= 3 x 6 

= 18 cm

Ques.: What is the perimeter of an equilateral triangle with one 5cm side?  (2 marks)

Ans.: Because the triangle is an equilateral triangle, the lengths of all three sides are equal.

Because one side is 5cm in length, the other two sides will be 5cm in length as well.

As a result, the perimeter is calculated as 5 + 5 + 5 = 15cm.

Ques.: Find the lengths of the three sides of an equilateral triangle with a perimeter of 21cm.  (2 marks)

Ans.: Because all three sides of an equilateral triangle are the same length, the perimeter is three times the length of a side.

Let any side's length be equal to 'a' units. As a result, perimeter equals '3a' units.

3a = 21 cm 

a = 7 cm

Thus, each side measures 7 cm in length.

Ques.: Calculate the perimeter of a triangle with 10 cm on each side.  (2 marks)

Ans.: The triangle is an equilateral triangle because all three sides are the same length.

a = b = c = 10 cm, for example

Perimeter = a + b + c 

= 10 + 10 + 10

= 30 cm

Ques.: In a triangle with a perimeter of 40 cm and two sides of 10 cm each, what is the missing side length?  (3 marks)

Ans.: Assume that the perimeter is 40 cm.

Both sides are the same length, i.e., 10 cm.

As a result, the triangle is isosceles.

Using the formula: 

  P = 2l + b 

40 = 2 * 10 + b 

40 = 20 + b 

or

  b = 20

The length of the missing side is 20 cm.

Ques.: Calculate the perimeter of a triangle with 5 cm, 4 cm, and 2 cm sides.  (3 marks)

Ans.: Let's assume a = 5 cm, b = 4 cm and c = 2cm.

Perimeter = Sum of all sides 

= a + b + c 

= 5 + 4 + 2 = 11 cm

As a result, the correct answer is 11 cm.

Ques.: Find the perimeter of an isosceles triangle with 6 cm equal sides and an 8 cm third side.  (2 marks)

Ans.: Two sides of an isosceles triangle are equal.

As a result, a = 6, b = 6, and c = 8

Isosceles triangle perimeter = a + b + c 

= a + a + c 

= 2a + c 

= 2 x 6 + 8 

= 12 + 8 

= 20 cm

Ques.: A triangle's longest side is twice as long as its shortest side. If the length of the third side is 15 cm and the perimeter is 57 cm, find two missing sides.  (5 marks)

Ans.: Let a be one of the triangle's sides.

The opposing side, as per the question, will be:

b = 2a

c = 15 cm (given)

Perimeter = a + b+ c

57 = a + 2a + 15 

57 = 3a + 15 

57- 15 = 3a 

42 = 3a

a = 42/3

a =14 

Also,

b= 2a 

= 2 x 14 

= 28

Hence, a = 14 cm, b = 28 cm

Therefore, the two sides are 14 cm and 28 cm respectively. 

Also Check:

CBSE X Related Questions

1.
Which of the following are APs? If they form an AP, find the common difference d and write three more terms.
(i) 2, 4, 8, 16, . . . .
(ii) \(2, \frac{5}{2},3,\frac{7}{2}\), . . . .
(iii) – 1.2, – 3.2, – 5.2, – 7.2, . . . .
(iv) – 10, – 6, – 2, 2, . . .
(v) 3, \(3 + \sqrt{2} , 3 + 3\sqrt{2} , 3 + 3 \sqrt{2}\) . . . .
(vi) 0.2, 0.22, 0.222, 0.2222, . . . .
(vii) 0, – 4, – 8, –12, . . . .
(viii) \(\frac{-1}{2}, \frac{-1}{2}, \frac{-1}{2}, \frac{-1}{2}\), . . . .
(ix) 1, 3, 9, 27, . . . .
(x) a, 2a, 3a, 4a, . . . .
(xi) a, \(a^2, a^3, a^4,\)  . . . .
(xii) \(\sqrt{2}, \sqrt{8} , \sqrt{18} , \sqrt {32}\) . . . .
(xiii) \(\sqrt {3}, \sqrt {6}, \sqrt {9} , \sqrt {12}\) . . . . .
(xiv) \(1^2 , 3^2 , 5^2 , 7^2\), . . . .
(xv) \(1^2 , 5^2, 7^2, 7^3\), . . . .

      2.

      Prove the following identities, where the angles involved are acute angles for which the expressions are defined:\(\frac{(\text{1 + tan² A})}{(\text{1 + cot² A})} = (\frac{\text{1 - tan A }}{\text{ 1 - cot A}})^²= \text{tan² A}\)

          3.

          The following frequency distribution gives the monthly consumption of electricity of 68 consumers of a locality. Find the median, mean and mode of the data and compare them

          Monthly consumption 
          (in units)

           Number of consumers

          65 - 85 

          4

          85 - 105

          5

          105 - 125

          13

          125 - 145

          20

          145 - 165

          14

          165 - 185

          8

          185 - 205

          4

              4.

              A vertical pole of length 6 m casts a shadow 4 m long on the ground and at the same time a tower casts a shadow 28 m long. Find the height of the tower.

                  5.
                  A 1.5 m tall boy is standing at some distance from a 30 m tall building. The angle of elevation from his eyes to the top of the building increases from 30° to 60° as he walks towards the building. Find the distance he walked towards the building.

                      6.
                      Find the sums given below :
                      1. \(7 + 10\frac 12+ 14 + ....... + 84\)
                      2. \(34 + 32 + 30 + ....... + 10\)
                      3. \(–5 + (–8) + (–11) + ....... + (–230)\)

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