SOLUTION: I do not understand Areas of a triangle can you explain them?

Question 87058: I do not understand Areas of a triangle can you explain them?
Answer by longjonsilver(2297) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Before discussing a triangle, learn the area of a rectangle.

For a rectangle with length a and "height" b, the area is a times b. Note that length b has to be at right angles to the length a... this is important when we discuss triangles.

Now, if we cut the rectangle in half (from one vertex to the opposite one (ie along one of the diagonals of the rectangle) what we then have is a triangle and its area is half that of the rectangle (since the rectangle is made up of 2 identical rectangles.

So area of triangle is (1/2) times a times b

where the length b HAS to be the length from side a upto the highest point of the triangle (ie length b is at right angles to length a).

So, pick a length to be "a" on your triangle and then find the length b. You will be given these 2 lengths usually, even if the triangle is drawn to disguise this fact.

Hope this helps

cheers
Jon

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