Date: Wed, 23 Dec 1998
Sender: Elysia

How do you figure the square inches of a triangle?

Hi Elysia

 
  To find the area of a triangle measured in square inches first construct a rectangle on the same base of the triangle and with its height the height of the triangle. If you measure the base and height in inches then the area of the rectangle is base * height (* is multiplication).
  Looking at the second diagram the two yellow triangles are the same size and hence have equal areas. Likewise the two blue triangles are the same size and have equal areas. Thus the rectangle has area twice the area of the triangle you started with and therefore the area of the triangle is 1/2 * base * height.

Cheers
Harley

 

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