Area of a Triangle Formula

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 49 views

Introduction

When it comes to calculating the area of a right triangle, we need to know the length of its base and height. The formula for the area of a right triangle is given by:

Area = (base × height) / 2

In this article, we will use this formula to calculate the area of a right triangle with a height of 8.9 cm and a base of 14.3 cm.

Understanding the Formula

The formula for the area of a right triangle is a simple one. It involves multiplying the base and height of the triangle and then dividing the result by 2. This formula is derived from the fact that the area of a triangle is equal to half the product of its base and height.

Why is the formula (base × height) / 2?

The reason for this formula is that the area of a triangle is equal to half the product of its base and height. This is because the area of a triangle is equal to the sum of the areas of the two smaller triangles that can be formed by drawing a line from the vertex of the triangle to the midpoint of the opposite side.

Calculating the Area

Now that we have understood the formula, let's calculate the area of the right triangle with a height of 8.9 cm and a base of 14.3 cm.

Step 1: Multiply the base and height

To calculate the area, we need to multiply the base and height of the triangle. In this case, the base is 14.3 cm and the height is 8.9 cm.

base = 14.3
height = 8.9
area = base * height
print(area)

Step 2: Divide the result by 2

Once we have multiplied the base and height, we need to divide the result by 2 to get the area of the triangle.

area = area / 2
print(area)

Calculating the Area in Python

We can also calculate the area of the triangle using Python. Here is a simple Python program that calculates the area of a right triangle with a height of 8.9 cm and a base of 14.3 cm.

def calculate_area(base, height):
    area = (base * height) / 2
    return area

base = 14.3
height = 8.9
area = calculate_area(base, height)
print("The area of the triangle is:", area, "cm²")

Conclusion

In this article, we have calculated the area of a right triangle with a height of 8.9 cm and a base of 14.3 cm using the formula Area = (base × height) / 2. We have also used Python to calculate the area of the triangle. The area of the triangle is 62.355 cm².

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the formula for the area of a right triangle? The formula for the area of a right triangle is Area = (base × height) / 2.
How do I calculate the area of a right triangle? To calculate the area of a right triangle, you need to multiply the base and height of the triangle and then divide the result by 2.
What is the unit of measurement for the area of a triangle? The unit of measurement for the area of a triangle is cm² (square centimeters).

References

Math Open Reference Math Open Reference is a free online math reference book that provides detailed explanations and examples of various mathematical concepts, including the area of a triangle.
Wolfram MathWorld Wolfram MathWorld is a comprehensive online math reference book that provides detailed explanations and examples of various mathematical concepts, including the area of a triangle.

Introduction

In our previous article, we discussed how to calculate the area of a right triangle using the formula Area = (base × height) / 2. In this article, we will answer some frequently asked questions related to the area of a right triangle.

Q&A

Q: What is the formula for the area of a right triangle?

A: The formula for the area of a right triangle is Area = (base × height) / 2.

Q: How do I calculate the area of a right triangle?

A: To calculate the area of a right triangle, you need to multiply the base and height of the triangle and then divide the result by 2.

Q: What is the unit of measurement for the area of a triangle?

A: The unit of measurement for the area of a triangle is cm² (square centimeters).

Q: Can I use the area formula for any type of triangle?

A: No, the area formula Area = (base × height) / 2 is only applicable to right triangles. For other types of triangles, you need to use different formulas.

Q: How do I find the base and height of a right triangle?

A: The base and height of a right triangle are the two sides that form the right angle. You can find the base and height by using the Pythagorean theorem or by measuring the sides of the triangle.

Q: Can I use the area formula for triangles with negative base and height?

A: No, the area formula Area = (base × height) / 2 is only applicable to triangles with positive base and height. If the base and height are negative, you need to use the absolute values.

Q: How do I calculate the area of a triangle with a decimal base and height?

A: To calculate the area of a triangle with a decimal base and height, you can use the formula Area = (base × height) / 2 and perform the calculations using decimal arithmetic.

Q: Can I use the area formula for triangles with irrational base and height?

A: Yes, you can use the area formula Area = (base × height) / 2 for triangles with irrational base and height. However, you need to perform the calculations using irrational arithmetic.

Q: How do I calculate the area of a triangle with a variable base and height?

A: To calculate the area of a triangle with a variable base and height, you can use the formula Area = (base × height) / 2 and substitute the variable values into the formula.

Conclusion

In this article, we have answered some frequently asked questions related to the area of a right triangle. We hope that this article has provided you with a better understanding of the area formula and how to use it to calculate the area of a right triangle.

References

Math Open Reference Math Open Reference is a free online math reference book that provides detailed explanations and examples of various mathematical concepts, including the area of a triangle.
Wolfram MathWorld Wolfram MathWorld is a comprehensive online math reference book that provides detailed explanations and examples of various mathematical concepts, including the area of a triangle.

Additional Resources

Area of a Triangle Calculator This is an online calculator that can be used to calculate the area of a triangle.
Right Triangle Calculator This is an online calculator that can be used to calculate the area and other properties of a right triangle.
Mathematical Formulas This is a website that provides a comprehensive collection of mathematical formulas, including the area of a triangle formula.