In triangle with angles , , and , , , and )+( )) are consecutive terms in the triangular number sequence, where is an integer and the sum of the terms is . If the ratio of the altitude to altitude to altitude to is in the form , determine the value of . If this product can be expressed as , find the value of .
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Use the formula that the nth triangular number is equal to 2 n ( n + 1 ) to determine that the consecutive terms are the 14th, 15th, and 16th, or 1 0 5 , 1 2 0 , and 1 3 6 . Setting the 3 given expressions equal to their respective terms and using the fact that the angles of a triangle ( a + b + c ) equals 1 8 0 , it can be derived that a = 4 5 , b = 6 0 , and c = 7 5 . Using the Law of Sines, we can find the ratio of sides. Finally, using the fact that the area of a triangle equals the base times the height divided by 2 , the ratio of altitudes is p = ( 3 − 1 ) : 1 : q = 3 ( 6 ) ). As a result, p q = 3 2 ( 3 − 3 ) ), and since the square root of integer k is k to the 2 ( 1 ) power, 0 . 5 ∗ 3 ∗ 2 = 3 , which is our final answer.