Why is the formula to find area of triangle:
1/2 x base x height?
This is because area of triangle will ALWAYS be half of the area of a RECTANGLE or Square!
Food for Thought!
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Next ...
How do we determine the base and height of a triangle?
DO YOU KNOW ...
Any side of a triangle can be the base!
So, which base do we take to calculate the area of triangle?
Well .... that depends on which measurement of the side of the triangle is given! ;p If all measurements of the sides are given, then we need to see which perpendicular height of the base is given!!!
DO YOU KNOW ...
The height of the triangle must meet 2 conditions?
Most student only knows one of them, i.e. the height must be perpendicular to the base! If that is the case, which vertical line in the figure below (Pic. 1) is the height of the triangle? H1 or H2 or H3? All vertical lines meet the condition to be perpendicular to the base! :)
Any side of a triangle can be the base!
So, which base do we take to calculate the area of triangle?
Well .... that depends on which measurement of the side of the triangle is given! ;p If all measurements of the sides are given, then we need to see which perpendicular height of the base is given!!!
DO YOU KNOW ...
The height of the triangle must meet 2 conditions?
Most student only knows one of them, i.e. the height must be perpendicular to the base! If that is the case, which vertical line in the figure below (Pic. 1) is the height of the triangle? H1 or H2 or H3? All vertical lines meet the condition to be perpendicular to the base! :)
So, have you figure out what is the next condition for the height of the triangle?
YES!!! The perpendicular height extends from the vertex opposite the base to meet the actual base or extended at a 90° angle (See Pic. 2)! So, the answer is H3 is the height of the triangle!
YES!!! The perpendicular height extends from the vertex opposite the base to meet the actual base or extended at a 90° angle (See Pic. 2)! So, the answer is H3 is the height of the triangle!
To summarize
1) Area of triangle will ALWAYS be half of the area of a RECTANGLE or Square -> 1/2 x base (b) x height (h)!
2) Any side of the triangle can be the base!
3) The height of the triangle must meet 2 conditions:
- the height must be perpendicular to the base
- the perpendicular height extends from the vertex opposite the base to meet the actual base or extended base at a 90° angle.
2) Any side of the triangle can be the base!
3) The height of the triangle must meet 2 conditions:
- the height must be perpendicular to the base
- the perpendicular height extends from the vertex opposite the base to meet the actual base or extended base at a 90° angle.