1992 AMC 8 Problem 17

Attempt Problem 17 of the 1992 AMC 8 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 1992 AMC 8 solutions, or check the answer key.

All problems are used with official legal permission of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA).

17.

The sides of a triangle have lengths 6.5,6.5, 10,10, and s,s, where ss is a whole number. What is the smallest possible value of s?s?
33
44
55
66
77
Answer: B
Concepts:triangle inequality
Small hint:
For a triangle, the two shorter sides must add to more than the longest side
Big hint:
You need 6.5+s>106.5 + s \gt 10; find the smallest whole number ss
Solution:
By the triangle inequality, 6.5+s6.5 + s must exceed the longest side 10,10, so s>3.5.s \gt 3.5.
The smallest whole number greater than 3.53.5 is 4,4, and it does form a valid triangle.
Thus, the correct answer is B .
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