6 — Triangle Areas

Triangle Areas

Solution & Explanation · ID: 14DF2B82

Question

A triangle has an area of 42 square meters and a height of 6 meters. What is the length of its base?

Hint

Start with the area formula and substitute what you know. Then solve for the missing base.

Concept

When we know the area and height of a triangle, we can find the base by rearranging the area formula. Since A = ½ × b × h, we can solve for b = 2A ÷ h.

Show Answer

14 meters

Show Solution
1

Identify what we know: Area = 42 square meters, height = 6 meters

2

Set up the area formula: 42 = ½ × base × 6

3

Simplify: 42 = 3 × base

4

Solve for base: base = 42 ÷ 3 = 14 meters

A triangle with base labeled 'b = 14 m' along the bottom edge. A dashed vertical line shows the height labeled '6 m' perpendicular to the base. Inside the triangle is written 'Area = 42 sq m'. The equation 42 = ½ × b × 6 is shown, simplified to 42 = 3b, then solved as b = 42 ÷ 3 = 14.