Intermediate Geometry : Triangles

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Intermediate Geometry

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Example Questions

Example Question #561 : Plane Geometry

In ΔABC: a = 8, b = 13, c = 9.

Find the area of ΔABC (to the nearest tenth).

Possible Answers:

33.9

36.1

35.5

29.6

40.4

Correct answer:

35.5

Explanation:

In order to determine the area of a non-right triangle, we can use Heron's formula:

\displaystyle Area =\sqrt{s(s-a)(s-b)(s-c)}
\displaystyle s=\frac{a+b+c}{2}

Using the information from the question, we obtain:
\displaystyle s=\frac{8+13+9}{2}=15
\displaystyle Area =\sqrt{15(15-8)(15-13)(15-9)}=35.5

Example Question #562 : Plane Geometry

In ΔABC: a = 16, b = 11, c = 19.

Find the area of ΔABC (to the nearest tenth).

Possible Answers:

87.9

85.2

78.8

75.5

80.1

Correct answer:

87.9

Explanation:

In order to determine the area of a non-right triangle, we can use Heron's formula:

\displaystyle Area =\sqrt{s(s-a)(s-b)(s-c)}
\displaystyle s=\frac{a+b+c}{2}

Using the information from the question, we obtain:
\displaystyle s=\frac{16+11+19}{2}=23
\displaystyle Area =\sqrt{23(23-16)(23-11)(23-19)}=87.9

Example Question #3 : How To Find The Area Of An Acute / Obtuse Triangle

Find the height of a triangle if its base is \displaystyle 12\:cm long and its area is \displaystyle 24\:cm^2.

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 6\:cm

\displaystyle 12\:cm

\displaystyle 2\:cm

\displaystyle 4\:cm

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 4\:cm

Explanation:

The formula to find the area of a triangle is

\displaystyle \text{Area}=\frac{\text{base }\times\text{height}}{2}

Substitute in the given values for area and base to solve for the height, \displaystyle h:

\displaystyle 24=\frac{12h}{2}

\displaystyle 12h=48

\displaystyle h=4\:cm

Example Question #4 : How To Find The Area Of An Acute / Obtuse Triangle

In terms of \displaystyle a, what is the area of a triangle with a height of \displaystyle 2a\:units and a base of \displaystyle 5a\:units?

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 15a^2\:units^2

\displaystyle 20a^2\:units^2

\displaystyle 5a^2\:units^2

\displaystyle 10a^2\:units^2

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 5a^2\:units^2

Explanation:

The formula to find the area of a triangle is

\displaystyle \text{Area}=\frac{base\times height}{2}

Substitute in the given values for the base and the height to find the area.

\displaystyle \text{Area}=\frac{5a\times 2a}{2}=\frac{10a^2}{2}=5a^2\:units^2

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Area Of An Acute / Obtuse Triangle

Find the area of the triangle below. Round to the nearest tenths place.

1

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 191.2\:units^2

\displaystyle 207.7\:units^2

\displaystyle 134.8\:units^2

\displaystyle 201.4\:units^2

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 207.7\:units^2

Explanation:

The formula used to find the area of the triangle is

\displaystyle \text{Area}=\frac{base\times height}{2}

Now, we will need to use a trigonometric ratio to find the length of the height. Because of the angle given, we will need to use \displaystyle \text{cosine}, because we are looking for the length of the adjacent side, the triangle's height, and we know the length of the hypotenuse of the smaller triangle formed by the height.

Remember that \displaystyle \text{cosine }\theta=\frac{adjacent}{hypotenuse}

\displaystyle \cos(33^{\circ})=\frac{height}{11}

Now, solve for the height.

\displaystyle \text{Height}=11\cos(33^{\circ})=9.23

Now you can find the area of the triangle:

\displaystyle \text{Area}=\frac{45\times9.23}{2}=207.7\:units^2

Example Question #4 : How To Find The Area Of An Acute / Obtuse Triangle

Find the area of the triangle below. Round to the nearest tenths place.

3

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 12.4\:units^2

\displaystyle 6.8\:units^2

\displaystyle 8.2\:units^2

\displaystyle 18.8\:units^2

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 18.8\:units^2

Explanation:

The formula used to find the area of the triangle is

\displaystyle \text{Area}=\frac{base\times height}{2}

Now, we will need to use a trigonometric ratio to find the length of the height. Because of the angle given, we will need to use \displaystyle \text{cosine}, because we are looking for the length of the adjacent side—the triangle's height—and we know the length of the hypotenuse of the smaller triangle formed by the height.

Remember that \displaystyle \text{cosine }\theta =\frac{adjacent}{hypotenuse}

\displaystyle \cos(20^{\circ})=\frac{height}{5}

Now, solve for the height.

\displaystyle \text{Height}=5\cos(20^{\circ})=4.70

Now you can find the area.

\displaystyle \text{Area}=\frac{8\times 4.70}{2}=18.8\:units^2

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Area Of An Acute / Obtuse Triangle

Find the area of the triangle below. Round to the nearest tenths place.

2

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 226.1\:units^2

\displaystyle 100.7\:units^2

\displaystyle 199.6\:units^2

\displaystyle 159.2\:units^2

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 226.1\:units^2

Explanation:

The formula used to find the area of the triangle is

\displaystyle \text{Area}=\frac{base\times height}{2}

Now, we will need to use a trigonometric ratio to find the length of the height. Because of the angle given, we will need to use \displaystyle \text{cosine}, because we are looking for the length of the adjacent side, the triangle's height, and we know the length of the hypotenuse of the smaller triangle formed by the height.

Remember that \displaystyle \text{cosine }\theta=\frac{adjacent}{hypotenuse}

\displaystyle \cos(24^{\circ})=\frac{height}{34}

Now, solve for the height.

\displaystyle \text{Height}=11\cos(24^{\circ})=10.05

Now you can find the area.

\displaystyle \text{Area}=\frac{45\times 10.05}{2}=226.1\:units^2

Example Question #3 : How To Find The Area Of An Acute / Obtuse Triangle

Find the area of the triangle below. Round to the nearest tenths place.

4

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 7.6\:units^2

\displaystyle 4.5\:units^2

\displaystyle 10.0\:units^2

\displaystyle 9.2\:units^2

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 10.0\:units^2

Explanation:

The formula used to find the area of the triangle is

\displaystyle \text{Area}=\frac{base\times height}{2}

Now, we will need to use a trigonometric ratio to find the length of the height. Because of the angle given, we will need to use \displaystyle \text{cosine}, because we are looking for the length of the adjacent side—the triangle's height—and we know the length of the hypotenuse of the smaller triangle formed by the height.

Remember that \displaystyle \text{cosine }\theta=\frac{adjacent}{hypotenuse}

\displaystyle \cos(18^{\circ})=\frac{height}{3}

Now, solve for the height.

\displaystyle \text{Height}=3\cos(18^{\circ})=2.85

Now you can find the area.

\displaystyle \text{Area}=\frac{7\times 2.85}{2}=10.0\:units^2

Example Question #9 : How To Find The Area Of An Acute / Obtuse Triangle

Find the area of the triangle below. Round to the nearest tenths place.

5

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 68.3\:units^2

\displaystyle 75.1\:units^2

\displaystyle 153.5\:units^2

\displaystyle 182.4\:units^2

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 153.5\:units^2

Explanation:

The formula used to find the area of the triangle is

\displaystyle \text{Area}=\frac{base\times height}{2}

Now, we will need to use a trigonometric ratio to find the length of the height. Because of the angle given, we will need to use \displaystyle \text{cosine}, because we are looking for the length of the adjacent side—the triangle's height—and we know the length of the hypotenuse of the smaller triangle formed by the height.

Remember that \displaystyle \text{cosine }\theta=\frac{adjacent}{hypotenuse}

\displaystyle \cos(24^{\circ})=\frac{height}{14}

Now, solve for the height.

\displaystyle \text{Height}=14\cos(24^{\circ})=12.79

Now you can find the area.

\displaystyle \text{Area}=\frac{24\times 12.79}{2}=153.5\:units^2

Example Question #10 : How To Find The Area Of An Acute / Obtuse Triangle

Find the area of the triangle below. Round to the nearest tenths place.

6

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 124.2\:units^2

\displaystyle 44.5\:units^2

\displaystyle 81.9\:units^2

\displaystyle 68.8\:units^2

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 68.8\:units^2

Explanation:

The formula used to find the area of the triangle is

\displaystyle \text{Area}=\frac{base\times height}{2}

Now, we will need to use a trigonometric ratio to find the length of the height. Because of the angle given, we will need to use \displaystyle \text{sine}, because we are looking for the height of the triangle, which in this case is the side opposite to the known angle, and we also know the length of the hypotenuse of the smaller triangle formed by the height.

Remember that \displaystyle \text{sin }\theta=\frac{opposite}{hypotenuse}

\displaystyle \sin(55^{\circ})=\frac{height}{12}

Now, solve for the height.

\displaystyle \text{Height}=12\sin(55^{\circ})=9.83

Now you can find the area.

\displaystyle \text{Area}=\frac{14\times 9.83}{2}=68.8\:units^2

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