document.write( "Question 611558: Why the smallest scalene triangle with integral sides has a perimeter of 9 units? \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #385039 by Edwin McCravy(20060) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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If the smallest side were 1, then the other sides would have to add\r\n" );
document.write( "to 8.  They couldn't be 4 and 4 because the triangle would be isosceles,\r\n" );
document.write( "not scalene. They couldn't be 3 and 5, because then the sum of the\r\n" );
document.write( "smaller two sides would be 1 + 3 which would be less then the third side\r\n" );
document.write( "5.  And they sure couldn't be 2 and 6, because then the sum of the\r\n" );
document.write( "smaller two sides would be 1 + 2 which would be less then the third side\r\n" );
document.write( "6.  So the smallest side cannot be 1.\r\n" );
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document.write( "If the smallest side is 2, then the other two sides whould have to\r\n" );
document.write( "add to 7, and they could only be 3 and 4.\r\n" );
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document.write( "So there is only one scalene triangle with perimeter 9 units, and each \r\n" );
document.write( "side being a whole number of units in length, 2 units, 3 units, and 4 \r\n" );
document.write( "units.  It looks like this:\r\n" );
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document.write( "Edwin

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