Problem:
The sides of a triangle form an arithmetic progression. The altitudes also form an arithmetic progression. Show that the triangle must be equilateral.
Problem:
The sides of a triangle form an arithmetic progression. The altitudes also form an arithmetic progression. Show that the triangle must be equilateral.
Solution:
Let the sides be , , with . Then the altitudes are , , , where is twice the area. We claim that unless . This is equivalent to or , which is obviously true. So the altitudes can only form an arithmetic progression if and hence the triangle is equilateral.