Loading...

Lesson: Geometry - 17t01

Finding The Area Of A Triangle

[Page 17 of 30]

What is the area of Δ XYZ? Type your answer into the text box, and then click Continue.

area = 15

Countinue

Notice that the question isn't asking for the area of the larger triangle—it's asking for the area of the triangle designated by points XYZ. We need to find the base and the height for Δ XYZ to plug into our formula.

This is an example of how geometry questions combine concepts. The sides of Δ XWY are in the 5:12:13 Pythagorean ratio, so we know that WY has length 12.

But, that's not the base for our triangle! Our triangle's base is ZY, not WY. Fortunately, we're also told that WZ is half of WY. Since WZ is 6, or half of WY, YZ must also be 6.

We know that the height is 5, because leg XW drops perpendicularly from the uppermost angle to the base line.

We can now use our formula to find the area:

Next to display next topic in the chapter.

Test Prep Lessons With Video Lessons and Explained MCQ

Large number of solved practice MCQ with explanations. Video Lessons and 10 Fully explained Grand/Full Tests.