# Difference between revisions of "2006 AMC 10A Problems/Problem 19"

## Problem

How many non-similar triangles have angles whose degree measures are distinct positive integers in arithmetic progression?

$\textbf{(A) } 0\qquad\textbf{(B) } 1\qquad\textbf{(C) } 59\qquad\textbf{(D) } 89\qquad\textbf{(E) } 178\qquad$

## Solution

The sum of the angles of a triangle is $180$ degrees. For an arithmetic progression with an odd number of terms, the middle term is equal to the average of the sum of all of the terms, making it $\frac{180}{3} = 60$ degrees. The minimum possible value for the smallest angle is $1$ and the highest possible is $59$ (since the numbers are distinct), so there are $59$ possibilities $\Longrightarrow \mathrm{C}$.

## Solution 2(Stars and Bars)

Let the first angle be $x$, and the common difference be $d$. The arithmetic progression can now be expressed as $x + (x + d) + (x + 2d) = 180$. Simplifiying, $x + d = 60$. Now, using stars and bars, we have $\binom{61}{1} = 61$. However, we must subtract the two cases in which either $x$ or $d$ equal $0$, so we have $61 - 2$ = $C$.