Problem of the Week 1158

A Cute Triangle Problem

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Solution

The best known solution is due to W. R. Somsky and has 12 triangles:

It is not known if 12 is minimal but it might well be. Mike Elgersma has some ideas that might lead to a proof, but they do not cover all cases.

Joseph DeVincentis found this solution with 18 triangles:

Ed Pegg found several solutions, some with 17 and 18 triangles. His solution with 21 triangles is posted at http://www.mathpuzzle.com/strictlyisosceles.gif

[Back to Problem 1158]

© Copyright 2012 Stan Wagon. Reproduced with permission.