SOLUTION: In how many ways can we form a nondegenerate triangle by choosing three distinct numbers from the set {1,2,3,4,5} as the sides?

Algebra.Com
Question 1133010: In how many ways can we form a nondegenerate triangle by choosing three distinct numbers from the set {1,2,3,4,5} as the sides?
Found 2 solutions by ikleyn, greenestamps:
Answer by ikleyn(52781)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
.
There are   =  = 10 ways to choose 3 distinct numbers of given 5 numbers.


It is not astronomically large number, and I can list all 10 combinations in the list  below:


 1)  1 2 3    (3 = 1 + 2, degenerate)

 2)  1 2 4    (4 > 1 + 2, impossible)

 3)  1 2 5    (5 > 1 + 2, impossible)

 4)  1 3 4     (4 = 1 + 3, degenerate)

 5)  1 3 5     (5 > 1 + 3, impossible)

 6)  1 4 5     (5 = 1 + 4, degenerate)

 7)  2 3 4

 8)  2 3 5     (5 = 2 + 3, degenerate)

 9)  2 4 5

10)  3 4 5 


In the next column on the right, I commented each combination/configuration.


"degenerate" means degenerated triangle.
"impossible" means a case where the triangle inequality is violated.
Empty comment means "a triangle is possible".


From the table, there are only 3 possible triangles ## 7, 9 and 10.    ANSWER

Solved.


Answer by greenestamps(13200)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!


If 1 were the shortest side, then the other two sides would have to have lengths whose difference is less than 1. Since we can only choose integer values, this is not possible.

So there are no triangles with shortest side 1.

If 2 is the shortest side, then the difference between the lengths of the other two sides must be less than 2. Since we can only choose integer values, the difference between the lengths of the other two sides must be 1. So there are 2 triangles with shortest side 2: 2-3-4 and 2-4-5.

If 3 is the shortest side, then the other two sides have to be 4 and 5.

ANSWER: 3 triangles: 2-3-4, 2-4-5, and 3-4-5.

RELATED QUESTIONS

Lotto Max is won by choosing 7 winning numbers from the number 1 to 49. In how many ways... (answered by Edwin McCravy)
How many odd numbers of four different digits can be formed by choosing from the digits... (answered by vleith)
When choosing three numbers from the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 (not replacing after... (answered by Fombitz)
In how many different ways can we form a number of 4 digits from digits 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, …... (answered by lynnlo)
In how many different ways can we form a number of 4 digits from digits 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, …... (answered by lynnlo)
How many ways can we select three books each from a different subject from a set of six... (answered by ikleyn)
Imagine that you have a set of integers e.g. {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}. In how many ways can we (answered by Edwin McCravy)
In how many ways can we select a Representatives of 4 SPEAKS, 3SAMASA, and 2 Independents (answered by ikleyn)
In how many ways can 25 be expressed as the sum of three prime numbers? A) 1 B) 3 C) 4 (answered by ikleyn,greenestamps)