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.