Triangle Classifier

Skills & Technologies

  • C
  • CodeBlocks

Project Description

Introduction

The Triangle Classifier project, developed in C, is an excellent demonstration of applying programming fundamentals to solve geometric problems. This project is designed to classify triangles based on the lengths of their sides, provided by the user. It implements concepts of conditional logic and mathematical calculations in C, making it an outstanding example of problem-solving through programming.

Project Overview

The program, triangles.c, begins by prompting the user to input the lengths of the three sides of a potential triangle. It then proceeds to verify whether these lengths can form a triangle using the principle that the sum of the lengths of any two sides must be greater than the length of the remaining side. Following this validation, the program classifies the triangle into one of four categories: equilateral, isosceles, right-angled, or scalene.

Core Functionality

Input Validation: Ensures that the provided side lengths can form a triangle, adhering to the geometric rule that the sum of any two sides must exceed the third.

Classification: Determines the type of triangle formed by the input lengths:

  • Equilateral: All sides have equal length
  • Isosceles: Two sides have equal length, different from the third
  • Right-Angled: The square of one side equals the sum of the squares of the other two sides
  • Scalene (implicitly determined): If the triangle is not equilateral, isosceles, or right-angled, it is classified as scalene, indicating that all sides have different lengths and it does not contain a right angle.

Inner Mechanics

Arithmetic and Comparison Operations: The program utilizes basic arithmetic operations to compare the sides of the triangle and to perform the Pythagorean theorem calculation for identifying right-angled triangles.
Conditional Logic: Implements a series of if-else statements to classify the triangle based on the comparison results.
Input Handling: Uses scanf for input collection and printf for outputting the classification results to the user.

Application and Impact

This Triangle Classifier project serves as a clear example of how fundamental programming concepts can be applied to develop practical solutions to mathematical and geometric problems. It displays how to implement mathematical solutions applying advanced concepts of the C programming language, the understanding of geometry, and the ability to create a user-interactive application.

Conclusion

Through the development of the Triangle Classifier, it is demonstrated a solid grasp of programming principles and C language syntax but also a creative approach to applying these skills in solving real-world problems.