Area of a Triangle Practice Problems & Step-by-Step Solutions

Master triangle area calculations with interactive practice problems. Learn the formula for all triangle types: equilateral, isosceles, scalene, right, and obtuse triangles.

📚What You'll Practice and Master
  • Apply the Area = (Base × Height) ÷ 2 formula to various triangle types
  • Calculate areas of right triangles using legs as base and height
  • Find missing measurements when given triangle area and one dimension
  • Solve real-world problems involving triangular shapes and tiling
  • Use Heron's formula to find area when all three sides are known
  • Work with obtuse triangles where height extends outside the triangle

Understanding Area of a Triangle

Complete explanation with examples

The Formula For Calculating The Area Of A Triangle

The formula for calculating the area of a triangle of any type:

height times base divided by 2 2 .

Area=Base×Height2 Area=\frac{Base\times Height}{2}

How to find the area of a triangle:

A3 - the general formula for calculating the area of triangles

Detailed explanation

Practice Area of a Triangle

Test your knowledge with 27 quizzes

Calculate the area of the triangle using the data in the figure below.

444777AAABBBCCC8.06

Examples with solutions for Area of a Triangle

Step-by-step solutions included
Exercise #1

The triangle ABC is given below.
AC = 10 cm

AD = 3 cm

BC = 11.6 cm
What is the area of the triangle?

11.611.611.6101010333AAABBBCCCDDD

Step-by-Step Solution

The triangle we are looking at is the large triangle - ABC

The triangle is formed by three sides AB, BC, and CA.

Now let's remember what we need for the calculation of a triangular area:

(side x the height that descends from the side)/2

Therefore, the first thing we must find is a suitable height and side.

We are given the side AC, but there is no descending height, so it is not useful to us.

The side AB is not given,

And so we are left with the side BC, which is given.

From the side BC descends the height AD (the two form a 90-degree angle).

It can be argued that BC is also a height, but if we delve deeper it seems that CD can be a height in the triangle ADC,

and BD is a height in the triangle ADB (both are the sides of a right triangle, therefore they are the height and the side).

As we do not know if the triangle is isosceles or not, it is also not possible to know if CD=DB, or what their ratio is, and this theory fails.

Let's remember again the formula for triangular area and replace the data we have in the formula:

(side* the height that descends from the side)/2

Now we replace the existing data in this formula:

CB×AD2 \frac{CB\times AD}{2}

11.6×32 \frac{11.6\times3}{2}

34.82=17.4 \frac{34.8}{2}=17.4

Answer:

17.4

Video Solution
Exercise #2

What is the area of the given triangle?

555999666

Step-by-Step Solution

This question is a bit confusing. We need start by identifying which parts of the data are relevant to us.

Remember the formula for the area of a triangle:

A1- How to find the area of a triangleThe height is a straight line that comes out of an angle and forms a right angle with the opposite side.

In the drawing we have a height of 6.

It goes down to the opposite side whose length is 5.

And therefore, these are the data points that we will use.

We replace in the formula:

6×52=302=15 \frac{6\times5}{2}=\frac{30}{2}=15

Answer:

15

Video Solution
Exercise #3

What is the area of the triangle in the drawing?

5557778.68.68.6

Step-by-Step Solution

First, we will identify the data points we need to be able to find the area of the triangle.

the formula for the area of the triangle: height*opposite side / 2

Since it is a right triangle, we know that the straight sides are actually also the heights between each other, that is, the side that measures 5 and the side that measures 7.

We multiply the legs and divide by 2

5×72=352=17.5 \frac{5\times7}{2}=\frac{35}{2}=17.5

Answer:

17.5

Video Solution
Exercise #4

Calculate the area of the triangle ABC using the data in the figure.

121212888999AAABBBCCCDDD

Step-by-Step Solution

First, let's remember the formula for the area of a triangle:

(the side * the height that descends to the side) /2

 

In the question, we have three pieces of data, but one of them is redundant!

We only have one height, the line that forms a 90-degree angle - AD,

The side to which the height descends is CB,

Therefore, we can use them in our calculation:

CB×AD2 \frac{CB\times AD}{2}

8×92=722=36 \frac{8\times9}{2}=\frac{72}{2}=36

Answer:

36 cm²

Video Solution
Exercise #5

Calculate the area of the right triangle below:

101010666888AAACCCBBB

Step-by-Step Solution

Due to the fact that AB is perpendicular to BC and forms a 90-degree angle,

it can be argued that AB is the height of the triangle.

Hence we can calculate the area as follows:

AB×BC2=8×62=482=24 \frac{AB\times BC}{2}=\frac{8\times6}{2}=\frac{48}{2}=24

Answer:

24 cm²

Video Solution

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the formula for finding the area of any triangle?

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The universal formula for triangle area is Area = (Base × Height) ÷ 2. This works for all triangle types - equilateral, isosceles, scalene, right, and obtuse triangles. The height must be perpendicular to the base.

How do you find the area of a right triangle?

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For right triangles, you can use either leg as the base and the other leg as the height since they're perpendicular. Simply multiply the two legs and divide by 2: Area = (leg₁ × leg₂) ÷ 2.

What's different about calculating the area of an obtuse triangle?

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In obtuse triangles, the height often falls outside the triangle when drawn from the obtuse angle. You extend the base line to meet the perpendicular height line, but still use the same formula: Area = (Base × Height) ÷ 2.

When should I use Heron's formula instead of the basic triangle area formula?

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Use Heron's formula when you know all three side lengths but don't know the height. The formula is Area = √[s(s-a)(s-b)(s-c)], where s = (a+b+c)/2 is the semi-perimeter.

How do I find a missing dimension if I know the triangle's area?

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Rearrange the area formula to solve for the unknown. If you need the height: Height = (2 × Area) ÷ Base. If you need the base: Base = (2 × Area) ÷ Height. Always ensure your units are consistent.

What are common mistakes students make when calculating triangle areas?

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Common errors include: 1) Forgetting to divide by 2, 2) Using the wrong measurements as base and height (they must be perpendicular), 3) Misidentifying the height in obtuse triangles, 4) Not converting units consistently.

How can I check if my triangle area calculation is correct?

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Verify your answer by: 1) Ensuring the height is perpendicular to the base, 2) Double-checking your arithmetic, 3) Confirming units are consistent, 4) Estimating if the result seems reasonable for the triangle's size.

What's the relationship between triangle area and squares or rectangles?

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A triangle is exactly half of a parallelogram (including rectangles and squares) with the same base and height. This is why we divide by 2 in the triangle area formula - we're finding half the area of the corresponding parallelogram.

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