The sides of a triangle do not have a fixed sum that applies to all triangles. Instead, the key concept to remember is that the length of each side of a triangle must be less than the sum of the lengths of the other two sides. This principle is known as the triangle inequality theorem.
For example, if you have a triangle with sides measuring 3 units, 4 units, and 5 units, you can check the triangle inequality as follows:
- 3 + 4 > 5
- 3 + 5 > 4
- 4 + 5 > 3
Since all these inequalities hold true, these side lengths can form a triangle. However, if you had sides measuring 1, 2, and 3 units, the inequality fails (1 + 2 is not greater than 3), and thus these lengths cannot form a triangle.
In summary, while there is no specific total that all triangles reach regarding their side lengths, the triangle inequality theorem is crucial for understanding the relationships between the sides.