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China Western Mathematical Olympiad

China geometry

Problem

Is there a triangle with sides of integral length, such that the length of the shortest side is and that the largest angle is twice the smallest?
Solution
We shall prove that no such a triangle satisfies the condition. If satisfies the condition, let , then , and . Draw the bisector of and let it intersect at point . Then , so , it follows that Thus where . Since are integers, so , then . We can let , from ①, we get . Thus , so . But , so , this implies , contradiction.
Final answer
No

Techniques

Triangle inequalitiesAngle chasingFactorization techniques