document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=87058>Question 87058</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> I do not understand Areas of a triangle can you explain them? </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #63028 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=longjonsilver><B>longjonsilver(2297)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=longjonsilver><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=longjonsilver><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=63028\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Before discussing a triangle, learn the area of a rectangle.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "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.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "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.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "So area of triangle is (1/2) times a times b\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "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).\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "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.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Hope this helps\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "cheers<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Jon<BR>\n" );
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