What is the area of a triangle with base b and height h?

What is the area of a triangle with base b and height h?

• A. Area = bh/2
• B. Area = bh
• C. Area = b + h
• D. Area = b^2 h

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that a triangle with a given base and height fits inside a rectangle formed by that base and height, and its area is half of the rectangle’s area. Since the rectangle has area base times height, the triangle’s area is (base × height) ÷ 2, or bh/2. The other expressions don’t match the true area: bh is the area of the rectangle with the same base and height, bh + something adds dimensions not used for area, and b^2h combines base with height in an incorrect way. So bh/2 is the correct area.

The main idea is that a triangle with a given base and height fits inside a rectangle formed by that base and height, and its area is half of the rectangle’s area. Since the rectangle has area base times height, the triangle’s area is (base × height) ÷ 2, or bh/2. The other expressions don’t match the true area: bh is the area of the rectangle with the same base and height, bh + something adds dimensions not used for area, and b^2h combines base with height in an incorrect way. So bh/2 is the correct area.