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| Area of Triangles |
Area of Triangles
The area of a triangle is the total enclosed space on the two-dimensional plane by the sides of the triangle.
The area of a triangle can be calculated by multiplying one half by the base * height
For example, if you have a triangle that is 3cm on the base and 4cm in height, then you can work out the area:
Area = .5 * 3 * 4 = 6cm²
Terminology
- Base (b) - The length of one side of the triangle (note: the side chosen for the base must always have angles of 90 degrees or less on both ends)
- Height (h) - The length of a line perpendicular with the base to the opposite point of the triangle.
Formula
Area = 0.5 * base of the triangle * height of the triangle
For example in the image above,
Area = 0.5 * a * h
Important information about Obtuse Triangles
An obtuse triangle is one that has an internal angle of more than 90 degrees, like the one pictured below:
In this case, the base must be side 'BC' and not 'AB' or 'CA' (the height would be a perpendicular line from the base to point 'A'). If the measurement of the height is not known, it would have to be measured, or it would need to be calculated using trigonometry.