Triangle Side Verification: Is BD a Side of Triangle BCD?

Triangle Naming with Vertex Identification

True or false:

BD is a side of triangle BCD.

❤️ Continue Your Math Journey!

We have hundreds of course questions with personalized recommendations + Account 100% premium

Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations
00:00 Determine whether BD is a side in the given triangle BCD
00:03 Identify the sides of the triangle BCD
00:06 Each combination of two letters represents a side in the triangle
00:10 Proceed to examine all of the potential combinations in order to identify all of the sides (There are a total of 3 sides)
00:16 Therefore, we can observe that BD is part of triangle BCD
00:20 This is the solution

Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution
1

Understand the problem

True or false:

BD is a side of triangle BCD.

2

Step-by-step solution

To ascertain whether BD is a side of triangle BCD, observe the basic geometric principles associated with triangles.

In Euclidean geometry, a triangle is named based on its vertices. For triangle BCD, it consists of three vertices: B, C, and D.

The sides of the triangle are the line segments directly joining these vertices. Thus, the sides of triangle BCD are:

  • Line segment BC, connecting vertices B and C.
  • Line segment CD, connecting vertices C and D.
  • Line segment BD, connecting vertices B and D.

Line segments such as BD connect two vertices within the triangle and thus qualify as one of its sides. This aligns with the standard definition of a triangle in Euclidean geometry, where any side is formed by connecting two of its vertices.

Therefore, indeed, BD is a side of triangle BCD.

The correct conclusion is true: BD is a side of triangle BCD.

3

Final Answer

True

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic
  • Triangle Sides: Connect any two vertices of the triangle
  • Technique: Triangle BCD has sides BC, CD, and BD
  • Check: Count vertices B, C, D - any pair forms a side ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors
  • Confusing sides with other geometric elements
    Don't think BD might be a diagonal or height = wrong classification! BD connects two vertices of triangle BCD, making it a legitimate side by definition. Always remember that triangle sides are simply line segments connecting any two vertices.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

Can a triangle have a right angle?

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

How do I know which line segments are sides of a triangle?

+

A triangle's sides are the line segments that connect its vertices. For triangle BCD, the vertices are B, C, and D, so the sides are BC, CD, and BD - that's it!

Can a triangle have more than 3 sides?

+

No! By definition, a triangle always has exactly 3 sides and 3 vertices. If it had more sides, it would be a different polygon like a quadrilateral or pentagon.

What's the difference between a side and a diagonal in triangles?

+

In triangles, there are no diagonals! Every line segment connecting two vertices is a side. Diagonals only exist in polygons with 4 or more sides.

Does the order of vertices in the triangle name matter?

+

Not for identifying sides! Triangle BCD, triangle CBD, and triangle DBC all have the same three sides: BC, CD, and BD. The order might matter for other properties, but not for basic side identification.

How can I be sure BD is really a side and not something else?

+

Ask yourself: Does BD connect two vertices of the triangle? Since B and D are both vertices of triangle BCD, BD is definitely a side. It's that simple!

🌟 Unlock Your Math Potential

Get unlimited access to all 18 Triangle questions, detailed video solutions, and personalized progress tracking.

📹

Unlimited Video Solutions

Step-by-step explanations for every problem

📊

Progress Analytics

Track your mastery across all topics

🚫

Ad-Free Learning

Focus on math without distractions

No credit card required • Cancel anytime

More Questions

Click on any question to see the complete solution with step-by-step explanations