SOLUTION: The area of a triangle is 12. That is all that is given and I want to know what are the side lengths and angles.

Algebra ->  Triangles -> SOLUTION: The area of a triangle is 12. That is all that is given and I want to know what are the side lengths and angles.      Log On


   



Question 212484: The area of a triangle is 12. That is all that is given and I want to know what are the side lengths and angles.
Found 2 solutions by drj, rapaljer:
Answer by drj(1380) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The area of a triangle is 12. That is all that is given and I want to know what are the side lengths and angles.

Step 1. To make this problem easier, let's assume a right triangle.

Step 2. Area of Triangle A is

A=bh%2F2


where b=base and h=height or b and h are also the legs of the right triangle.

Step 3. Area= A = 12. So let b=4 and solve for h.

A=bh%2F2

12=4h%2F2

12=2h

Divide by 2 from both sides of equation

12%2F2=2h%2F2

6=h

Using Pythagean Theorem, hypotenuse c ia


c=sqrt%284%5E2%2B6%5E2%29

c=sqrt%2820%29

Step 4. Sides 4, 6 and sqrt%2820%29. With the b=4 and h=6 and the Area A=%284%2A6%29%2F2=12


Hope the steps were helpful. Good luck in your studies.

Respectfully,
Dr J

For Step-By-Step videos on Introduction to Algebra, please visit http://www.FreedomUniversity.TV/courses/IntroAlgebra.












Answer by rapaljer(4671) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
This is not enough information to determine the triangle. There are infinitely many triangles, of all shapes and characteristics, that have an area of 12. Are you sure there isn't some other qualification somewhere in the problem? Maybe you are just supposed to think of one, like maybe a triangle whose base is 6 and whose height is 4.

R^2