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Saturday, October 10, 2020

2020/024) Show that if for sides a,b,c of a triangle if for each integer n the sides a^n,b^n,c^n form a triangle then the triangle is isosceles.

Without loss of generality let us assume that a is the longest side. if the triangle is not  isosceles then we have a > b and a > c.

For it to an triangle we need to have a^n < b^n + c^n

Or (\frac{b}{a})^n +  (\frac{c}{a})^n > 1\cdots(1) for all n

As b < a so (\frac{b}{a}) < 1 and  (\frac{b}{a})^n < 1 and as n goes to infinity this goes to zero. 

Similarly (\frac{c}{a})^n < 1 and as n goes to infinity this goes to zero. 

So the sum goes to zero and hence (1) is not true so a^n,b^n.c^n sides cannot form a triangle

So  either b or c has to be same as a. So the triangle is isosceles.

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