I have two triangles. The sides of the first triangle follows a arithmetic progression .
The second triangle is an equilateral triangle.
The perimeter of both the triangles are equal.
The relationship between these triangles can be expressed as
The ratio of the side lengths of the first triangle can be expressed as , where are all positive integers such that .
Submit your answer as .
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Let the sides of the triangle be ( a − d ) , a , ( a + d ) since they are in arithmetic progression.
The perimeter of the triangle = the perimeter of a equilateral triangle = a − d + a + a + d = 3 a . Therefore the sides of the equilateral triangle are a , a , a .
The area of the equilateral triangle = 4 a 2 3 by formula.
The area of the original triangle = 5 3 × area of the equilateral triangle = 2 0 3 a 2 3 . − − − − − 1
We find the area of the original triangle by heron's formula : [Semi-Perimeter(s) = 2 3 a ]
= s ( s − x ) ( s − y ) ( s − z ) where x , y , z are the sides of the triangle.
= ( 2 3 a ) ( 2 a + d ) ( 2 a ) ( 2 a − d )
= ( 4 3 a 2 ) ( 4 a 2 − 4 d 2 ) − − − − − − 2
Since 1 = 2 , ⇒ 2 0 5 3 a 2 3 = 4 a 3 a 2 − 4 d 2 ⇒ d = 5 2 a .
Therefore the sides of the triangle are ( a − d ) = a − 5 2 a = 5 3 a ; a ; ( a + d ) = a + 5 2 a = 5 7 a .
Hence the ratio of the sides of the triangle = 5 3 a : a : 5 7 a = 3 : 5 : 7 .
a = 3 , b = 5 , c = 7 . So a + b + c = 3 + 5 + 7 = 1 5 .