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Triangle Dissection--Integer Triangles


An integer triangle dissection is a triangle dissection of an integer triangle into smaller integer triangles. The original triangle and every piece therefore have integer side lengths.

TriangleDissection

A specific type of triangle dissection consists of a triangle DeltaABC together with an interior point P such that the original side lengths and the additional three line segments created by connecting the triangulation point with the vertices are all integers. An example of such a dissection is illustrated above (Pegg).

TriangleDissections3

Other possible dissections allow cut lines to be drawn from arbitrary points along the sides. Allowing only primitive triangles without any parallel lines, isosceles triangles, or similar triangles, the smallest three-piece integer dissection of each of the four possible types is illustrated above.

TriangleDissections4

Similarly, the smallest four-piece integer dissection for each of the 23 possible types is shown above.

TriangleDissections5

Two 5-piece dissections are illustrated above (Pegg).


See also

Integer Triangle, Triangle Dissection

Portions of this entry contributed by Ed Pegg, Jr.

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References

Pegg, E. Jr. MathPuzzle. Jun. 1, 2002. https://www.mathpuzzle.com/itg3.gif.Pegg, E. Jr. "MathPuzzle: Dividing an Integer Triangle Into Smaller Integer Triangles." Jun. 1, 2002. https://www.mathpuzzle.com/itgrand.html.Pegg, E. Jr. "MathPuzzle: Triangles." Apr. 24, 2012. https://www.mathpuzzle.com/triangle.html.

Cite this as:

Weisstein, Eric W., with contributions by Ed Pegg, Jr.. "Triangle Dissection--Integer Triangles." From MathWorld--A Wolfram Resource. https://mathworld.wolfram.com/TriangleDissectionIntegerTriangles.html

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