How can you tell when you do (area= base times heigh/2t)

Question

     ^

8ft/_\ 8ft 

    17ft

 

(a=b*h/2)

Answer 1

Lengths of 8, 8, and 17 do not make a triangle because 8 + 8 < 17.

 

So there is no area.

 

See this GeoGebra sketch to visualize the problem:

http://www.wyzant.com/resources/files/262509/sides_8_8_17

Answer 2

Seems like this is not a right angle triangle. So you have to draw a right angle from top to the base and then measure that length. That will be the height of the triangle. The base is 17ft.  After finding height, put the values in the formula 

 

A= base * height /2

A = 17 * (Whatever is the height)/2  and you will have the Area. 

Answer 3

Hi Ashley;

You are calculating the area of an isosceles triangle.  The height, distance from the middle of the base to the point where the two identical sides meet, is 8 feet.  The base is 17 feet.

area=(b*h)/2

area=[(8)(17)]/2

area=136/2

area=68