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2019 AMC 12A Problem 19

Problem 19 of 25HarderAlgebraGeometry

In ABC\triangle ABC with integer side lengths, cosA=1116,cosB=78,cosC=14. \begin{aligned} \cos A &= \dfrac{11}{16}, \\ \cos B &= \dfrac{7}{8}, \\ \cos C &= -\dfrac{1}{4}. \end{aligned} What is the least possible perimeter for ABC?\triangle ABC?

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Solution

Each sine is 1cos2:\sqrt{1 - \cos^2}: sinA=31516,\sin A = \dfrac{3\sqrt{15}}{16}, sinB=21516,\sin B = \dfrac{2\sqrt{15}}{16}, sinC=41516.\sin C = \dfrac{4\sqrt{15}}{16}. By the Law of Sines the sides are in ratio 3:2:4.3 : 2 : 4. The smallest integer sides are 3,2,4,3, 2, 4, which satisfy the triangle inequality. The least perimeter is 3+2+4=9.3 + 2 + 4 = 9. Thus, the correct answer is A.

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Concepts: law of sines · ratio and proportion · triangle inequality

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