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The lengths of the sides of a triangle are positive integers. One side has length 17cm and the perimeter of the triangle is 50cm. If the area is also an integer, then the length of the shortest side is.  

 May 7, 2017
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The lengths of the sides of a triangle are positive integers. One side has length 17cm and the perimeter of the triangle is 50cm. If the area is also an integer, then the length of the shortest side is.  

 

Mmmmm......this one might be tough to figure out.....

 

This is a "guess  and check"  answer

 

Let  side  a  =  17

 

Call the unknown sides  b and c

 

We know that     17  + b + c  =  50   →  b +  c  =  33

 

Let the other two  sides be   b  =  17  and  c  = 16

 

The  semi-perimeter  =  perimeter/ 2 =   50/2  = 25  = s

 

And by Heron's formula....we have...

 

Area  = sqrt  [ s  (s - a) (s - b) (s - c) ]

 

Area  =  sqrt [ 25 * (25 - 17) (25- 17) (25 - 16)] =

 

sqrt [ 25 * 8^2  * 9 ]  =

 

sqrt [ 25 * 64  * 9]  =

 

5 * 8 * 3    =    120  cm^2

 

So...... the two sides a and b  are  equal  = 17 cm  each  

And the remaining shortest side  = c = 16 cm

 

P.S.  -  there may be other possibilities ?? 

 

 

cool cool cool

 May 7, 2017

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