A little disconcertingly I generated the data of a triangle with integral sides in a spreadsheet. The area calculation suggested that it had zero area.

Knowing there was an obvious contradiction I wrote a computer listing to see if there were others which fitted this situation, and yes, there was an infinite number.

Clearly I am doing something wrong, explain.

(In reply to re(2): most likely way - and apology by brianjn)

In Heron's formula, if a=s, b=s or c=s, that is, one side equals the semiperimeter, then indeed two of the sides add up to the third and the triangle is that degenerate 0-area one from the first post.

Posted by Charlie on 2009-12-31 13:23:39