October 2009
Problem of the Month

Counting Triangles
Mike Selinker and Thomas Snyder in GAMES Magazine July 2009

How many triangles?

Solution to the Problem:

There are 56 triangles total in the Snowflake design.

• There are 5 in the big equilateral triangle split into smaller equilateral triangles.
• There are 3 inside the central small equilateral triangle using the center vertex.
• There are 18 (3 * 6) with the extra hexagonal sides around the small equilateral triangle.
• There are 30 (3 * 10) with the extra hexagonal sides around the large equilateral triangle.

Correctly solved by:

1. Bryant Nelson	Mountain View High School, Mountain View, Wyoming
2. Rick Jones	Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
3. Hugo Cnockaert	John Handley High School, Winchester, Virginia
4. Justin Huff	John Handley High School, Winchester, Virginia
5. Patrick Baker	John Handley High School, Winchester, Virginia
6. Anna Szentirmai	John Handley High School, Winchester, Virginia
7. Deborah Cotter's Period 1 Individual Math Class	Algonquin Regional High School, Northborough, Massachusetts

Send any comments or questions to: David Pleacher