MHB What is the Formula for the Area of a Triangle and When Does Equality Hold?

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The area of a triangle with sides a, b, and c is bounded by the inequality P ≤ (√3/4)(abc)^(2/3). Equality holds specifically for equilateral triangles, where all sides are equal. The proof involves using Heron's formula and properties of trigonometric functions. The discussion emphasizes the significance of the triangle's shape in determining area efficiency. Understanding this relationship is crucial for geometric optimization and applications in various fields.
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3. Prove that for any triangle with sides $\displaystyle a,b,c$ and area $P$ the following
inequality holds: $\displaystyle P\leq\frac{\sqrt3}{4}(abc)^{2/3}$
Find all triangles for which equality holds.
 
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Hint: A known formula, involving a trigonometric function, for the area of triangles.

solution:

If $\alpha,\beta,\gamma$ (WLOG $\alpha\leq\beta\leq\gamma$) are respectively the angles opposite to $a,b,c$, then $P$ is equal to anyone of $\displaystyle\frac{1}{2}ab\cdot\sin(\gamma),\frac{1}{2}ac\cdot\sin(\beta),\frac{1}{2}bc\cdot\sin( \alpha)$. Hence, $\displaystyle P^3=\frac{1}{8}(abc)^2\sin(\alpha)\sin(\beta)\sin(\gamma)$.

To get an inequality in the right direction, we try to determine the maximum value $m$ of $\sin(\alpha)\sin(\beta)\sin(\gamma)$. Since $\sin$ increases in $[0,\pi/2]$, we have $\sin(\alpha)\leq\sin(\beta)\leq\sin(\gamma)$. So it's not difficult to see that we need to maximize $\alpha$, and that happens for $\alpha=\pi/3$ ($\alpha+\alpha+\alpha\leq\alpha+\beta+\gamma=\pi$). Now, obviously $\alpha=\beta=\gamma=\pi/3$, and hence $\displaystyle m=\sin(\pi/3)\sin(\pi/3)\sin(\pi/3)=(\frac{\sqrt3}{2})^3$.

Finally, $\displaystyle P\leq(\frac{1}{8}(abc)^2m)^{1/3}=\frac{\sqrt3}{4}(abc)^{2/3}$.
Equality occurs precisely for equilateral triangles.
 
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Here is a little puzzle from the book 100 Geometric Games by Pierre Berloquin. The side of a small square is one meter long and the side of a larger square one and a half meters long. One vertex of the large square is at the center of the small square. The side of the large square cuts two sides of the small square into one- third parts and two-thirds parts. What is the area where the squares overlap?

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