An isosceles triangle cannot be scalene. Here's why:
1. Definition:
- An isosceles triangle has at least two sides of equal length. This means it cannot have all three sides of different lengths, which is a characteristic of a scalene triangle.
2. Properties:
- In an isosceles triangle, the angles opposite the equal sides are also equal. This symmetry is not present in a scalene triangle, where all three sides and angles are different.
3. Example:
- Imagine an isosceles triangle with two sides of equal length such as 5 units each. In this case, the third side cannot have a different length to maintain the triangle's isosceles property. If the third side were a different length, it would violate the definition of an isosceles triangle.
Therefore, the statement "An isosceles triangle can be scalene" is false. An isosceles triangle by definition cannot be scalene due to its specific properties related to side lengths and angles.
