Prove that there exists a triangle which can be cut into 2005 congruent triangles.











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I thought maybe we can start with congruent triangle and try to cut it similar to how we create a Sierpinski's Triangle? However, the number of smaller triangles we get is a power of $4$ so it does not work. Any ideas?










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    I thought maybe we can start with congruent triangle and try to cut it similar to how we create a Sierpinski's Triangle? However, the number of smaller triangles we get is a power of $4$ so it does not work. Any ideas?










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      I thought maybe we can start with congruent triangle and try to cut it similar to how we create a Sierpinski's Triangle? However, the number of smaller triangles we get is a power of $4$ so it does not work. Any ideas?










      share|cite|improve this question















      I thought maybe we can start with congruent triangle and try to cut it similar to how we create a Sierpinski's Triangle? However, the number of smaller triangles we get is a power of $4$ so it does not work. Any ideas?







      geometry contest-math






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      edited 1 hour ago









      Akash Roy

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      53815










      asked 2 hours ago









      mathnoob

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          2 Answers
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          The decomposition is possible because $2005 = 5cdot 401$ and both $5$ and $401$ are prime of the form $4k+1$. This allow $2005$ can be written as a sum of squares.



          $$2005 = 22^2 + 39^2 = 18^2+41^2$$



          For any integer $n = p^2 + q^2$ that can be written as a sum of squares.
          Consider a right-angled triangle $ABC$ with
          $$AB = psqrt{n}, AC = qsqrt{n}quadtext{ and }quad BC = n$$
          Let $D$ on $BC$ be the foot of attitude passing through $A$. It is easy to
          check $triangle DBA$ and $triangle DAC$ are similar to $triangle ABC$ with



          $$AB = p^2, AD = pqquadtext{ and }quad CD = q^2$$
          One can split $triangle DBA$ into $p^2$ and $triangle DAC$ into $q^2$
          triangles with sides $p, q$ and $sqrt{n}$.



          As an example, following is a subdivision of a triangle into $13 = 2^2 + 3^2$ congruent triangles.



          tiling by 13 congruent triangles



          In the literature, this is known as a biquadratic tiling of a triangle. For more information about subdividing triangles into congruent triangles, look at answers in this MO post. In particular, the list of papers by Michael Beeson there. The construction described here is based on what I have learned from one of Michael's papers.






          share|cite|improve this answer






























            up vote
            2
            down vote













            Since $2005$ is the sum of two squares, there exists this sort of triangle. In a contest setting, if you're trying to show $2005$ is a sum of two squares, realize that $2005=401cdot 5$. Since 401 and 5 are sums of squares, we know that their product is also a sum of squares.



            Now in general if we have $n=x^2+y^2$, let our triangle be an $x$ by $y$ right triangle. Then, we can split this triangle along the altitude to the hypotenuse, which gives us two similar triangles with hypotenuses $x$ and $y$ respectively. Finally, we can decompose each of these into $x^2$ and $y^2$ similar right triangles with hypotenuses $1$, via a stretched version of the following picture.



            Triangle Tiling






            share|cite|improve this answer





















            • I know this sum of squares is a sufficient condition, but I'm not sure if it's necessary. Any thoughts on this? As a particular example, would $3$ or $7$ work?
              – Isaac Browne
              1 hour ago








            • 1




              The $30-60-90$ triangle can be divided into three triangles. Start by bisecting the 60 angle.
              – Empy2
              56 mins ago










            • Alright, so $3$ works. I also just thought of the construction of connecting vertices of an equilateral triangle to the center, which would create three congruent triangles. Any others?
              – Isaac Browne
              51 mins ago










            • It seems Michael Beeson has proved that $7$ is impossible recently. this appears on his web site, not yet available on arXiv...
              – achille hui
              2 mins ago











            Your Answer





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            2 Answers
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            up vote
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            down vote













            The decomposition is possible because $2005 = 5cdot 401$ and both $5$ and $401$ are prime of the form $4k+1$. This allow $2005$ can be written as a sum of squares.



            $$2005 = 22^2 + 39^2 = 18^2+41^2$$



            For any integer $n = p^2 + q^2$ that can be written as a sum of squares.
            Consider a right-angled triangle $ABC$ with
            $$AB = psqrt{n}, AC = qsqrt{n}quadtext{ and }quad BC = n$$
            Let $D$ on $BC$ be the foot of attitude passing through $A$. It is easy to
            check $triangle DBA$ and $triangle DAC$ are similar to $triangle ABC$ with



            $$AB = p^2, AD = pqquadtext{ and }quad CD = q^2$$
            One can split $triangle DBA$ into $p^2$ and $triangle DAC$ into $q^2$
            triangles with sides $p, q$ and $sqrt{n}$.



            As an example, following is a subdivision of a triangle into $13 = 2^2 + 3^2$ congruent triangles.



            tiling by 13 congruent triangles



            In the literature, this is known as a biquadratic tiling of a triangle. For more information about subdividing triangles into congruent triangles, look at answers in this MO post. In particular, the list of papers by Michael Beeson there. The construction described here is based on what I have learned from one of Michael's papers.






            share|cite|improve this answer



























              up vote
              3
              down vote













              The decomposition is possible because $2005 = 5cdot 401$ and both $5$ and $401$ are prime of the form $4k+1$. This allow $2005$ can be written as a sum of squares.



              $$2005 = 22^2 + 39^2 = 18^2+41^2$$



              For any integer $n = p^2 + q^2$ that can be written as a sum of squares.
              Consider a right-angled triangle $ABC$ with
              $$AB = psqrt{n}, AC = qsqrt{n}quadtext{ and }quad BC = n$$
              Let $D$ on $BC$ be the foot of attitude passing through $A$. It is easy to
              check $triangle DBA$ and $triangle DAC$ are similar to $triangle ABC$ with



              $$AB = p^2, AD = pqquadtext{ and }quad CD = q^2$$
              One can split $triangle DBA$ into $p^2$ and $triangle DAC$ into $q^2$
              triangles with sides $p, q$ and $sqrt{n}$.



              As an example, following is a subdivision of a triangle into $13 = 2^2 + 3^2$ congruent triangles.



              tiling by 13 congruent triangles



              In the literature, this is known as a biquadratic tiling of a triangle. For more information about subdividing triangles into congruent triangles, look at answers in this MO post. In particular, the list of papers by Michael Beeson there. The construction described here is based on what I have learned from one of Michael's papers.






              share|cite|improve this answer

























                up vote
                3
                down vote










                up vote
                3
                down vote









                The decomposition is possible because $2005 = 5cdot 401$ and both $5$ and $401$ are prime of the form $4k+1$. This allow $2005$ can be written as a sum of squares.



                $$2005 = 22^2 + 39^2 = 18^2+41^2$$



                For any integer $n = p^2 + q^2$ that can be written as a sum of squares.
                Consider a right-angled triangle $ABC$ with
                $$AB = psqrt{n}, AC = qsqrt{n}quadtext{ and }quad BC = n$$
                Let $D$ on $BC$ be the foot of attitude passing through $A$. It is easy to
                check $triangle DBA$ and $triangle DAC$ are similar to $triangle ABC$ with



                $$AB = p^2, AD = pqquadtext{ and }quad CD = q^2$$
                One can split $triangle DBA$ into $p^2$ and $triangle DAC$ into $q^2$
                triangles with sides $p, q$ and $sqrt{n}$.



                As an example, following is a subdivision of a triangle into $13 = 2^2 + 3^2$ congruent triangles.



                tiling by 13 congruent triangles



                In the literature, this is known as a biquadratic tiling of a triangle. For more information about subdividing triangles into congruent triangles, look at answers in this MO post. In particular, the list of papers by Michael Beeson there. The construction described here is based on what I have learned from one of Michael's papers.






                share|cite|improve this answer














                The decomposition is possible because $2005 = 5cdot 401$ and both $5$ and $401$ are prime of the form $4k+1$. This allow $2005$ can be written as a sum of squares.



                $$2005 = 22^2 + 39^2 = 18^2+41^2$$



                For any integer $n = p^2 + q^2$ that can be written as a sum of squares.
                Consider a right-angled triangle $ABC$ with
                $$AB = psqrt{n}, AC = qsqrt{n}quadtext{ and }quad BC = n$$
                Let $D$ on $BC$ be the foot of attitude passing through $A$. It is easy to
                check $triangle DBA$ and $triangle DAC$ are similar to $triangle ABC$ with



                $$AB = p^2, AD = pqquadtext{ and }quad CD = q^2$$
                One can split $triangle DBA$ into $p^2$ and $triangle DAC$ into $q^2$
                triangles with sides $p, q$ and $sqrt{n}$.



                As an example, following is a subdivision of a triangle into $13 = 2^2 + 3^2$ congruent triangles.



                tiling by 13 congruent triangles



                In the literature, this is known as a biquadratic tiling of a triangle. For more information about subdividing triangles into congruent triangles, look at answers in this MO post. In particular, the list of papers by Michael Beeson there. The construction described here is based on what I have learned from one of Michael's papers.







                share|cite|improve this answer














                share|cite|improve this answer



                share|cite|improve this answer








                edited 18 mins ago

























                answered 1 hour ago









                achille hui

                93.7k5127251




                93.7k5127251






















                    up vote
                    2
                    down vote













                    Since $2005$ is the sum of two squares, there exists this sort of triangle. In a contest setting, if you're trying to show $2005$ is a sum of two squares, realize that $2005=401cdot 5$. Since 401 and 5 are sums of squares, we know that their product is also a sum of squares.



                    Now in general if we have $n=x^2+y^2$, let our triangle be an $x$ by $y$ right triangle. Then, we can split this triangle along the altitude to the hypotenuse, which gives us two similar triangles with hypotenuses $x$ and $y$ respectively. Finally, we can decompose each of these into $x^2$ and $y^2$ similar right triangles with hypotenuses $1$, via a stretched version of the following picture.



                    Triangle Tiling






                    share|cite|improve this answer





















                    • I know this sum of squares is a sufficient condition, but I'm not sure if it's necessary. Any thoughts on this? As a particular example, would $3$ or $7$ work?
                      – Isaac Browne
                      1 hour ago








                    • 1




                      The $30-60-90$ triangle can be divided into three triangles. Start by bisecting the 60 angle.
                      – Empy2
                      56 mins ago










                    • Alright, so $3$ works. I also just thought of the construction of connecting vertices of an equilateral triangle to the center, which would create three congruent triangles. Any others?
                      – Isaac Browne
                      51 mins ago










                    • It seems Michael Beeson has proved that $7$ is impossible recently. this appears on his web site, not yet available on arXiv...
                      – achille hui
                      2 mins ago















                    up vote
                    2
                    down vote













                    Since $2005$ is the sum of two squares, there exists this sort of triangle. In a contest setting, if you're trying to show $2005$ is a sum of two squares, realize that $2005=401cdot 5$. Since 401 and 5 are sums of squares, we know that their product is also a sum of squares.



                    Now in general if we have $n=x^2+y^2$, let our triangle be an $x$ by $y$ right triangle. Then, we can split this triangle along the altitude to the hypotenuse, which gives us two similar triangles with hypotenuses $x$ and $y$ respectively. Finally, we can decompose each of these into $x^2$ and $y^2$ similar right triangles with hypotenuses $1$, via a stretched version of the following picture.



                    Triangle Tiling






                    share|cite|improve this answer





















                    • I know this sum of squares is a sufficient condition, but I'm not sure if it's necessary. Any thoughts on this? As a particular example, would $3$ or $7$ work?
                      – Isaac Browne
                      1 hour ago








                    • 1




                      The $30-60-90$ triangle can be divided into three triangles. Start by bisecting the 60 angle.
                      – Empy2
                      56 mins ago










                    • Alright, so $3$ works. I also just thought of the construction of connecting vertices of an equilateral triangle to the center, which would create three congruent triangles. Any others?
                      – Isaac Browne
                      51 mins ago










                    • It seems Michael Beeson has proved that $7$ is impossible recently. this appears on his web site, not yet available on arXiv...
                      – achille hui
                      2 mins ago













                    up vote
                    2
                    down vote










                    up vote
                    2
                    down vote









                    Since $2005$ is the sum of two squares, there exists this sort of triangle. In a contest setting, if you're trying to show $2005$ is a sum of two squares, realize that $2005=401cdot 5$. Since 401 and 5 are sums of squares, we know that their product is also a sum of squares.



                    Now in general if we have $n=x^2+y^2$, let our triangle be an $x$ by $y$ right triangle. Then, we can split this triangle along the altitude to the hypotenuse, which gives us two similar triangles with hypotenuses $x$ and $y$ respectively. Finally, we can decompose each of these into $x^2$ and $y^2$ similar right triangles with hypotenuses $1$, via a stretched version of the following picture.



                    Triangle Tiling






                    share|cite|improve this answer












                    Since $2005$ is the sum of two squares, there exists this sort of triangle. In a contest setting, if you're trying to show $2005$ is a sum of two squares, realize that $2005=401cdot 5$. Since 401 and 5 are sums of squares, we know that their product is also a sum of squares.



                    Now in general if we have $n=x^2+y^2$, let our triangle be an $x$ by $y$ right triangle. Then, we can split this triangle along the altitude to the hypotenuse, which gives us two similar triangles with hypotenuses $x$ and $y$ respectively. Finally, we can decompose each of these into $x^2$ and $y^2$ similar right triangles with hypotenuses $1$, via a stretched version of the following picture.



                    Triangle Tiling







                    share|cite|improve this answer












                    share|cite|improve this answer



                    share|cite|improve this answer










                    answered 1 hour ago









                    Isaac Browne

                    4,47231031




                    4,47231031












                    • I know this sum of squares is a sufficient condition, but I'm not sure if it's necessary. Any thoughts on this? As a particular example, would $3$ or $7$ work?
                      – Isaac Browne
                      1 hour ago








                    • 1




                      The $30-60-90$ triangle can be divided into three triangles. Start by bisecting the 60 angle.
                      – Empy2
                      56 mins ago










                    • Alright, so $3$ works. I also just thought of the construction of connecting vertices of an equilateral triangle to the center, which would create three congruent triangles. Any others?
                      – Isaac Browne
                      51 mins ago










                    • It seems Michael Beeson has proved that $7$ is impossible recently. this appears on his web site, not yet available on arXiv...
                      – achille hui
                      2 mins ago


















                    • I know this sum of squares is a sufficient condition, but I'm not sure if it's necessary. Any thoughts on this? As a particular example, would $3$ or $7$ work?
                      – Isaac Browne
                      1 hour ago








                    • 1




                      The $30-60-90$ triangle can be divided into three triangles. Start by bisecting the 60 angle.
                      – Empy2
                      56 mins ago










                    • Alright, so $3$ works. I also just thought of the construction of connecting vertices of an equilateral triangle to the center, which would create three congruent triangles. Any others?
                      – Isaac Browne
                      51 mins ago










                    • It seems Michael Beeson has proved that $7$ is impossible recently. this appears on his web site, not yet available on arXiv...
                      – achille hui
                      2 mins ago
















                    I know this sum of squares is a sufficient condition, but I'm not sure if it's necessary. Any thoughts on this? As a particular example, would $3$ or $7$ work?
                    – Isaac Browne
                    1 hour ago






                    I know this sum of squares is a sufficient condition, but I'm not sure if it's necessary. Any thoughts on this? As a particular example, would $3$ or $7$ work?
                    – Isaac Browne
                    1 hour ago






                    1




                    1




                    The $30-60-90$ triangle can be divided into three triangles. Start by bisecting the 60 angle.
                    – Empy2
                    56 mins ago




                    The $30-60-90$ triangle can be divided into three triangles. Start by bisecting the 60 angle.
                    – Empy2
                    56 mins ago












                    Alright, so $3$ works. I also just thought of the construction of connecting vertices of an equilateral triangle to the center, which would create three congruent triangles. Any others?
                    – Isaac Browne
                    51 mins ago




                    Alright, so $3$ works. I also just thought of the construction of connecting vertices of an equilateral triangle to the center, which would create three congruent triangles. Any others?
                    – Isaac Browne
                    51 mins ago












                    It seems Michael Beeson has proved that $7$ is impossible recently. this appears on his web site, not yet available on arXiv...
                    – achille hui
                    2 mins ago




                    It seems Michael Beeson has proved that $7$ is impossible recently. this appears on his web site, not yet available on arXiv...
                    – achille hui
                    2 mins ago


















                     

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