In geometry, what is the formula for the area of a triangle?

In geometry, what is the formula for the area of a triangle?

• A. Area = base × height
• B. Area = 2 × base × height
• C. Area = 1/2 × base × height
• D. Area = base + height

Answer: (C)

The area of a triangle is one-half of base times height. This comes from the idea that a parallelogram with the same base and height has area base × height, and a triangle is essentially half of that shape when you draw a diagonal across it. So the triangle’s area is 1/2 × base × height. For example, with a base of 6 and a height of 4, the area is 1/2 × 6 × 4 = 12 square units. The other forms don’t fit: base × height gives the area of a parallelogram, not a triangle; 2 × base × height would be twice as large as the triangle’s area; base + height isn’t an area measure.

The area of a triangle is one-half of base times height. This comes from the idea that a parallelogram with the same base and height has area base × height, and a triangle is essentially half of that shape when you draw a diagonal across it. So the triangle’s area is 1/2 × base × height.

For example, with a base of 6 and a height of 4, the area is 1/2 × 6 × 4 = 12 square units.

The other forms don’t fit: base × height gives the area of a parallelogram, not a triangle; 2 × base × height would be twice as large as the triangle’s area; base + height isn’t an area measure.