What is the formula to find the area of a triangle?

The formula for finding the area of a triangle is based on the idea that the area is a measure of how much space is enclosed within the triangle, which can be calculated using its base and height. The correct formula for the area of a triangle is given as (1/2) times the base times the height.

This relationship arises because a triangle can be seen as half of a rectangle. If you visualize or draw a rectangle where the triangle fits perfectly inside, you can see that the full rectangle's area is calculated by multiplying the base by the height. Since a triangle occupies half of that rectangle, the area of the triangle is thus half of the rectangle's area, leading to the formula: Area = (1/2) × base × height.

This principle is fundamental in geometry and is essential for calculating areas of various triangles, regardless of their dimensions, provided that the base and corresponding height are known.