What is the formula for calculating the area of a triangle?

Prepare for the ABCTE Secondary Math Exam with challenging questions, helpful hints, and detailed explanations. Equip yourself with the knowledge needed to excel in your certification test!

The formula for calculating the area of a triangle is derived from the concept of base and height. Specifically, the area is found by taking half of the product of the base length and the height of the triangle, which corresponds to this formula: Area = (1/2) × base × height.

This reflects the fact that a triangle can be thought of as half of a rectangle (or parallelogram) that is defined by the same base and height. Therefore, since the area of a rectangle is calculated as base times height, the area of the triangle is half of that, hence the (1/2) factor.

This understanding is crucial in geometry and is used frequently in various applications, including architectural design, land surveying, and many fields of engineering.

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