SOLUTION: Find the area of the triangle with base b and height h. b=y+1, h=2y I have already used the formula a=1/2 bh and get confused because it is not a whole number but rather y+1.

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Question 119193This question is from textbook College Algebra
: Find the area of the triangle with base b and height h.
b=y+1, h=2y
I have already used the formula a=1/2 bh and get confused because it is not a whole number but rather y+1. The book gives no example of such a problem. This question is from textbook College Algebra

Found 2 solutions by solver91311, jim_thompson5910:
Answer by solver91311(24713) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Perhaps it would have been less confusing if the question had said "Find an expression for the area..." Sometimes an expression involving a variable or variables is the best you can do with the information given, and that is the case with this problem.

is exactly the correct formula to use. Just plug in the values you are given.

Now multiply the factors together:

Divide out the 2

Now you have an expression, in terms of the variable y, that represents the area of the given triangle. You don't always have to come up with a numeric answer. Later on, if someone gives you a value for y, then you can come up with a number.

Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Think of as a number. For example if y=1, then . So we can still use this formula

Start with the given formula

Plug in and

Rearrange the terms

Multiply and to get

Distribute

So the area of a triangle with base and height is