1956 AMC 12 Problem 43
Attempt Problem 43 of the 1956 AMC 12 below, then check your answer against the professionally curated solution from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 1956 AMC 12 solutions, or check the answer key.
All problems are used with official legal permission of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA).
43.
The number of scalene triangles having all sides of integral lengths, and perimeter less than is:
Answer: C
Small Hint:
Order the distinct integer sides as and use
Big Hint:
List possibilities by the largest side; the perimeter bound leaves only small values of
Solution:
Write the distinct integer sides in increasing order. Checking the small possibilities under the triangle inequality and perimeter bound gives For the smallest new scalene candidate satisfying is whose perimeter is already and larger choices cannot qualify. Thus there are triangles.
The correct answer is C.