Question

A set $S$ consists of triangles whose sides have integer lengths less than $5,$ and no two elements of $S$ are congruent or similar. What is the largest number of elements that $S$ can have?

$8$

$9$

$10$

$11$

$12$

Answer: B

Concepts:triangle inequality similarity systematic listing

Difficulty rating: 1770

Solution:

Write each triangle by its side lengths in nonincreasing order. Only one equilateral triangle is allowed (all are similar), and of the similar pair $2,2,1$ and $4,4,2$ only one may appear.

The remaining valid, pairwise non-similar triangles are $\begin{gathered} 4\,4\,3,\ 4\,4\,1,\ 4\,3\,3,\ 4\,3\,2,\ \\ 3\,3\,2,\ 3\,3\,1,\ 3\,2\,2, \end{gathered}$ seven in all. Together with one equilateral and one of the similar pair, $S$ has at most $9$ elements.

Thus, the correct answer is B.

2014 AMC 12B Problem 12

Answer: B

Difficulty rating: 1770

Solution:

Problem 12 in Other Years