Triangle given three sides (SSS)

This page shows how to construct a triangle given the length of all three sides, with compass and straightedge or ruler. It works by first copying one of the line segments to form one side of the triangle. Then it finds the third vertex from where two arcs intersect at the given distance from each end of it.

Multiple triangles possible

Note: This construction is not always possible

Printable step-by-step instructions

The above animation is available as a printable step-by-step instruction sheet, which can be used for making handouts or when a computer is not available.

Proof

The image below is the final drawing above with the red items added.

	Argument	Reason
1	Line segment LM is congruent to AB.	Drawn with the same compass width. See Copying a line segment
2	The third vertex N of the triangle must lie somewhere on arc P.	All points on arc P are distance AC from L since the arc was drawn with the compass width set to AC.
3	The third vertex N of the triangle must lie somewhere on arc Q.	All points on arc Q are distance BC from M since the arc was drawn with the compass width set to BC.
4	The third vertex N must lie where the two arcs intersect	Only point that satisfies 2 and 3.
5	Triangle LMN satisfies the three side lengths given. LM is congruent to AB, LN is congruent to AC, MN is congruent to BC,

  - Q.E.D

Try it yourself

Other constructions pages on this site

• List of printable constructions worksheets

Lines

• Introduction to constructions
• Copy a line segment
• Sum of n line segments
• Difference of two line segments
• Perpendicular bisector of a line segment
• Perpendicular from a line at a point
• Perpendicular from a line through a point
• Perpendicular from endpoint of a ray
• Divide a segment into n equal parts
• Parallel line through a point (angle copy)
• Parallel line through a point (rhombus)
• Parallel line through a point (translation)

Angles

• Bisecting an angle
• Copy an angle
• Construct a 30° angle
• Construct a 45° angle
• Construct a 60° angle
• Construct a 90° angle (right angle)
• Sum of n angles
• Difference of two angles
• Supplementary angle
• Complementary angle
• Constructing  75°  105°  120°  135°  150° angles and more

Triangles

• Copy a triangle
• Isosceles triangle, given base and side
• Isosceles triangle, given base and altitude
• Isosceles triangle, given leg and apex angle
• Equilateral triangle
• 30-60-90 triangle, given the hypotenuse
• Triangle, given 3 sides (sss)
• Triangle, given one side and adjacent angles (asa)
• Triangle, given two angles and non-included side (aas)
• Triangle, given two sides and included angle (sas)
• Triangle medians
• Triangle midsegment
• Triangle altitude
• Triangle altitude (outside case)

Right triangles

• Right Triangle, given one leg and hypotenuse (HL)
• Right Triangle, given both legs (LL)
• Right Triangle, given hypotenuse and one angle (HA)
• Right Triangle, given one leg and one angle (LA)

Triangle Centers

• Triangle incenter
• Triangle circumcenter
• Triangle orthocenter
• Triangle centroid

Circles, Arcs and Ellipses

• Finding the center of a circle
• Circle given 3 points
• Tangent at a point on the circle
• Tangents through an external point
• Tangents to two circles (external)
• Tangents to two circles (internal)
• Incircle of a triangle
• Focus points of a given ellipse
• Circumcircle of a triangle

Polygons

• Square given one side
• Square inscribed in a circle
• Hexagon given one side
• Hexagon inscribed in a given circle
• Pentagon inscribed in a given circle

Non-Euclidean constructions

• Construct an ellipse with string and pins
• Find the center of a circle with any right-angled object