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2015 AMC 12B Problem 10

Problem 10 of 25EasierGeometryCounting & Probability

How many noncongruent integer-sided triangles with positive area and perimeter less than 1515 are neither equilateral, isosceles, nor right triangles?

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Solution

Let the distinct sides be a<b<c.a \lt b \lt c. Since a+b>c,a + b \gt c, the perimeter exceeds 2c,2c, so 2c<152c \lt 15 and c6.c \le 6. The scalene triples with perimeter less than 1515 are (6,5,3),(6,5,3), (6,5,2),(6,5,2), (6,4,3),(6,4,3), (5,4,3),(5,4,3), (5,4,2),(5,4,2), and (4,3,2).(4,3,2). Of these, only (5,4,3)(5,4,3) is a right triangle, leaving 5.5. Thus, the correct answer is C.

More practice

Concepts: triangle inequality · systematic listing

Problem text and solution from the LIVE past-contest archive. See also the AoPS wiki page for community solutions.