What is the area of ABC below?

All side lengths are in meters.

m2
The triangle is half of a rectangle that has a length of 6 m and a width of 4 m.

It's a little easier to see that the triangle is half of the rectangle if we split the original
triangle into two right triangles.

This right triangle is half of a square with area 44=16 m2, so this right triangle has
an area of 8 m2.

The other right triangle is half of a rectangle with area 42=8 m2, so the other right
triangle has an area of 4 m2.
Adding the two pieces together, we see that the area is 8+4=12 m2.
The triangle has an area of 12 m2.

In pottery class, your teacher has cut triangular slabs of clay to be made into pots.
When it's your turn to choose a slab, there are only two left. You want to make as big a
pot as possible.
Which slab is bigger?
(Assume both pieces have the same thickness and no air bubbles.)
Slab 1 Slab 2

Slab 1

Slab 2

They are the same size

Not enough information

We can enclose each of the triangular slabs of clay in a rectangle to help us calculate
their areas.

The area of each slab of clay can be found by subtracting the areas of the additional
right triangles from the area of the enclosing rectangle.
For Slab 1, the enclosing rectangle has an area of 36=18, and the areas of the two
additional right triangles are:

213=1.5
236=9
Now we can subtract the areas of the additional triangles from the area of the rectangle.

181.59=7.5
Slab 1 has an area of 7.5 units2. What about Slab 2?
For Slab 2, the enclosing rectangle has an area of 35=15, and the areas of the two
additional right triangles are:

233=4.5
223=3
Now we can subtract the areas of the additional triangles from the area of the rectangle.

154.53=7.5
Slab 2 has an area of 7.5 units2.
Slabs 1 and 2 are the same size. Your pot will be the same size regardless of
which one you choose.

What is the area of ABC below?

All side lengths are in meters.

m2
The triangle is half of a rectangle that has a length of 6 m and a width of 4 m.

It's a little easier to see that the triangle is half of the rectangle if we split the original
triangle into two right triangles.

This right triangle is half of a square with area 44=16 m2, so this right triangle has
an area of 8 m2.

The other right triangle is half of a rectangle with area 42=8 m2, so the other right
triangle has an area of 4 m2.
Adding the two pieces together, we see that the area is 8+4=12 m2.
The triangle has an area of 12 m2.