What is the formula for the area of a triangle?

What is the formula for the area of a triangle?

• A. Area = base x height
• B. Area = 1/2 x base x height
• C. Area = base + height
• D. Area = base x height/2

Answer: (B)

The formula for the area of a triangle is expressed as one-half the product of the base and the height. When calculating the area, you take the length of the base of the triangle and the perpendicular height from the base to the opposite vertex. Multiplying these two values together gives you the area of a rectangle that encompasses the triangle, but since a triangle is half of that rectangle, you then divide by two. This results in the formula: Area = 1/2 x base x height. Understanding this formula is fundamental in geometry, as it applies to all triangles, regardless of their type—be it acute, obtuse, or right. The other options do not accurately represent the foundational formula for calculating the area of a triangle.

The formula for the area of a triangle is expressed as one-half the product of the base and the height. When calculating the area, you take the length of the base of the triangle and the perpendicular height from the base to the opposite vertex. Multiplying these two values together gives you the area of a rectangle that encompasses the triangle, but since a triangle is half of that rectangle, you then divide by two. This results in the formula: Area = 1/2 x base x height.

Understanding this formula is fundamental in geometry, as it applies to all triangles, regardless of their type—be it acute, obtuse, or right. The other options do not accurately represent the foundational formula for calculating the area of a triangle.