Area of Isosceles Triangles

🏆Practice area of a triangle

Formula to calculate the area of an isosceles triangle

A1 - Area of the isosceles triangle

Height of the base × Base2=A \frac{Height~of~the~base~\times ~Base}{2}=A

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Test yourself on area of a triangle!

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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

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Area of Isosceles Triangles

Calculating the area of an isosceles triangle is very simple, easy, and even identical to the calculation we do to find out the area of other types of triangles. Therefore, if you happen to get a question about calculating the area of isosceles triangles on the exam, I assure you that a small smile will appear on your face.


How is the area of an isosceles triangle calculated?

We will multiply the base by the height and divide by two.

A1 - Area of the isosceles triangle

Remember!

The main property of the isosceles triangle is that the median of the base, the bisector, and the height are the same, that is, they coincide. Therefore, even if the question only names the median of the base or the bisector, you can immediately deduce that it is also the height of the triangle and use it to calculate its area.

Observe the theorem holds true only with the height, the median of the base, and the bisector!

You didn't think we were going to send you off without any exercises on the topic, did you? Time to practice!

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Let's start with a classic exercise

Here you have an isosceles triangle ABCABC

A4 - Practice calculating the area of the isosceles triangle

Given that:
ab=acab=ac
ADAD -

Height
AD=4AD = 4
CB=6CB=6

What is the area of the triangle?

Solution: We will proceed according to the formula - the height AD=4AD = 4
multiply by the base CB=6CB = 6
and divide the received product by 22
We will obtain:
4×62=12 \frac{4\times6}{2}=12
The area of the triangle ABCABC is 1212 cm2.


Now let's move on to an exercise that aims to be a bit more sophisticated:

You have the isosceles triangle FDCFDC

A3 - Exercise on calculating the area of the isosceles triangle

Given that:
FC=FDFC=FD
CG=4CG= 4
FG=5FG = 5 The median of the base

Calculate the area

Solution: Let's remember that, in an isosceles triangle, the median of the base is also the height, therefore, we can use it in the formula for the area of the isosceles triangle. Let's note: Height FG=5FG=5
Now let's see that we have only half of the base CG=4CG =4 .
Since FGFG is given as the median, we can deduce that also GB=4GB=4 and consequently, the entire side of the base CD=8CD=8
Now let's put it in the formula:
4×82=16\frac{4\times 8}{2}=16
The area of the triangle FDCFDC is 1616 cm2 .


Do you know what the answer is?

Bonus exercise (tip) for advanced level

Formula to calculate the area of an isosceles triangle that is also a right triangle:

If you come across calculating the area of an isosceles triangle whose height has not been given, but you know it is a right triangle, it is useful to know the following trick:

A5 - Area of an isosceles triangle that is also a right triangle

Let's see how it is done by applying it in an exercise: Before you, you have an isosceles right triangle ABCABC
Given that AB=ACAB=AC
angle ABC=90ABC = 90
AB=4AB=4

Calculate the area of the triangle

Solution: Let's not be scared of not having data about the height and proceed according to the formula: the triangle is isosceles, therefore AB=AC=3AB=AC=3.

These are the two legs of the triangle - they form a right angle. Consequently, we will obtain:
4×42=8 \frac{4\times4}{2}=8
The area of the triangle is 88 cm2 .


Examples and exercises with solutions for the area of an isosceles triangle

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

Video Solution

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

Exercise #2

What is the area of the given triangle?

555999666

Video Solution

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

Exercise #3

What is the area of the triangle in the drawing?

5557778.68.68.6

Video Solution

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

Exercise #4

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

121212888999AAABBBCCCDDD

Video Solution

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

Exercise #5

Calculate the area of the right triangle below:

101010666888AAACCCBBB

Video Solution

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

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