GED Mathematical Reasoning TestQuantitative Problem Solving with MeasurementEasy

A landscaper is designing a triangular flower bed with a base of 10 feet and a height of 6 feet. What is the area of the flower bed?

  1. A60 square feet
  2. B30 square feet
  3. C16 square feet
  4. D120 square feet
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: B. 30 square feet

The area of a triangle is calculated using the formula A = ½ × base × height. So, A = ½ × 10 feet × 6 feet = ½ × 60 = 30 square feet.

Why the other options are wrong

  • A. This is base * height, forgetting to divide by two.
  • C. This is the sum of the base and height, not the area.
  • D. This is twice the base * height, an incorrect calculation.

Area of a Triangle

The amount of two-dimensional space enclosed by the three sides of a triangle.

  • Calculated by half the product of its base and height.
  • Formula: A = ½ × base × height.
  • The height must be perpendicular to the base.
  • Units are square units.

Memory trick: A triangle is half a rectangle, so its area is half too.

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