Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators: Mathematics (5733)GeometryEasy
A carpenter is cutting a triangular piece of wood. If the base of the triangle is 10 inches and its height is 6 inches, what is the area of the triangular piece of wood?
- A30 square inches
- B32 square inches
- C60 square inches
- D16 square inches
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. 30 square inches
The area of a triangle is calculated using the formula A = (1/2) * base * height. With a base of 10 inches and a height of 6 inches, the area is (1/2) * 10 * 6 = 5 * 6 = 30 square inches.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. This is (base + height) * 2, an incorrect formula.
- C. This is base * height, forgetting to divide by two.
- D. This is the sum of the base and height, not the area.
Area of a Triangle
The amount of two-dimensional space enclosed within the boundaries of a triangle.
- Formula: A = (1/2) * base * height.
- The height must be perpendicular to the base.
- Units are square units (e.g., square inches, square meters).
Memory trick: Half of base times height, for a triangle's area, is just right!