Triangle, perimeter = area (part 2)?

Geometry Level 4

Suppose there exists a triangle with integer side lengths such that its perimeter (in units) and area (in square units) have the same numerical value, p p .

What is the sum of all possible values of p ? p?


The answer is 192.

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2 solutions

Zach Abueg
Jul 9, 2017

Let a , b , c a, b, c denote the sides of triangle Δ A B C \Delta ABC . Recall Heron's formula for the area of a triangle with 3 3 given sides:

A = s ( s a ) ( s b ) ( s c ) A = \sqrt{s(s - a)(s - b)(s - c)}

where s = a + b + c 2 s = \displaystyle \frac{a + b + c}{2} .

Setting this equal to the triangle's perimeter, we have

( a + b + c ) ( b + c a ) ( a + c b ) ( a + b c ) = 4 ( a + b + c ) \sqrt{(a + b + c)(b + c - a)(a + c - b)(a + b - c)} = 4(a + b + c)

Let x = b + c a x = b + c - a , y = a + c b y = a + c - b , and z = a + b c z = a + b - c . We know that x , y , z x, y, z are positive integers because of the triangle inequality . Now we have

16 ( x + y + z ) = x y z 16(x + y + z) = xyz

We see that x , y , z x, y, z must all be even integers. Let x = 2 p x = 2p , y = 2 q y = 2q , z = 2 r z = 2r :

p q r = 4 ( p + q + r ) p q r 4 p = 4 ( q + r ) p = 4 ( q + r ) q r 4 \displaystyle \begin{aligned} pqr & = 4(p + q + r) \\ \implies pqr - 4p & = 4(q + r) \\ \implies p & = \frac{4(q + r)}{qr - 4} \end{aligned}

Without loss of generality assume p q r p \geq q \geq r . Then we have 2 p 2 q q + r q r 12 2p \geq 2q \geq q + r \implies qr \leq 12 .

Since 4 < q r 12 4 < qr \leq 12 , we may test integral values of q q and r r with q r q \geq r to find all such triangles. Finally, we see that there is only 5 5 such triangles:

( a , b , c ) = ( 5 , 12 , 13 ) , ( 6 , 8 , 10 ) , ( 6 , 25 , 29 ) , ( 7 , 15 , 20 ) , ( 9 , 10 , 17 ) (a, b, c) = (5, 12, 13), (6, 8, 10), (6, 25, 29), (7, 15, 20), (9, 10, 17)

i = 1 p i = 30 + 24 + 60 + 42 + 36 = 192 \implies \displaystyle \sum_{i \ = \ 1} p_i = 30 + 24 + 60 + 42 + 36 = \boxed{192}

Great solution. But I am still confusing that x,y,z must all be even integers. I totally agree that one of 3 unknown is even. For example, x is even. If x is divisible by 32, and y and z are odd numbers; I think the restriction,16(x+y+z)=xyz, is still right.

HIEU TRAN - 3 years, 10 months ago

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I think I find out how x,y,z must be even. We know that at least 1 of them is even, assuming x is even.

x=b+c-a and a,b,c is integer.Thus, two of them must be odd numbers and 1 must be even, or all of a,b, and c are even numbers. Regardless, both options make y=a+c-b and z=a+b-c even.

HIEU TRAN - 3 years, 10 months ago

16(x+y+z) = xyz can be solved with (x,y,z) = (20,84,1) so I agree with Hieu Tran that the deduction that x,y,z must all be even requires a bit more justification

Tom Richards - 3 years, 10 months ago

Beautiful solution!

Kazem Sepehrinia - 3 years, 10 months ago

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Wow, thanks Kazem! The pleasure is mine :)

Zach Abueg - 3 years, 10 months ago

I understand to 2p>=2q>=q+r, but I am just trying to understand the therefore qr <= 12. could you elaborate more. Thanks

Erick DiFiore - 3 years, 10 months ago

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Perhaps it will help to see the following:

q r 12 p 4 ( q + r ) 12 4 p q + r 2 2 p q + r \displaystyle \begin{aligned} qr & \leq 12 \\ \implies p & \geq \frac{4(q + r)}{{\color{#3D99F6}{12}} - 4} \\ \implies p & \geq \frac{q + r}{2} \\ \implies 2p & \geq q + r \end{aligned}

Zach Abueg - 3 years, 10 months ago

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Thanks, that makes sense.

Erick DiFiore - 3 years, 10 months ago

That is an amazing proof.

Terry Smith - 3 years, 10 months ago

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Thanks, Terry!

Zach Abueg - 3 years, 10 months ago

Fabulous proof.

Sum Pan - 3 years, 10 months ago

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Thanks Sum :)

Zach Abueg - 3 years, 10 months ago
Kyle T
Jul 22, 2017

I wrote code to do this
Herons formula is simplified at the bottom

You have only checked for 1 a , b , c 100 1\leq a,b,c\leq 100 . How do you know that there is no solution of ( a , b , c ) (a,b,c) such that at least one of them is larger than 100?

Pi Han Goh - 3 years, 10 months ago

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