Area of Isosceles Triangles

šŸ†Practice area of a triangle

Formula to calculate the area of an isosceles triangle

A1 - Area of the isosceles triangle

HeightĀ ofĀ theĀ baseĀ Ć—Ā Base2=A \frac{Height~of~the~base~\times ~Base}{2}=A

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Test yourself on area of a triangle!

Complete the sentence:

To find the area of a right triangle, one must multiply ________________ by each other and divide by 2.

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Area of Isosceles Triangles

Calculating the area of an isosceles triangle is very simple, easy, and even identical to the calculation we do to find out the area of other types of triangles. Therefore, if you happen to get a question about calculating the area of isosceles triangles on the exam, I assure you that a small smile will appear on your face.


How is the area of an isosceles triangle calculated?

We will multiply the base by the height and divide by two.

A1 - Area of the isosceles triangle

Remember!

The main property of the isosceles triangle is that the median of the base, the bisector, and the height are the same, that is, they coincide. Therefore, even if the question only names the median of the base or the bisector, you can immediately deduce that it is also the height of the triangle and use it to calculate its area.

Observe the theorem holds true only with the height, the median of the base, and the bisector!

You didn't think we were going to send you off without any exercises on the topic, did you? Time to practice!

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Let's start with a classic exercise

Here you have an isosceles triangle ABCABC

A4 - Practice calculating the area of the isosceles triangle

Given that:
ab=acab=ac
ADADĀ -

Height
AD=4AD = 4
CB=6CB=6

What is the area of the triangle?

Solution: We will proceed according to the formula - the height AD=4AD = 4
multiply by the base CB=6CB = 6
and divide the received product by 22
We will obtain:
4Ɨ62=12 \frac{4\times6}{2}=12
The area of the triangle ABCABC is 1212 cm2.


Now let's move on to an exercise that aims to be a bit more sophisticated:

You have the isosceles triangle FDCFDC

A3 - Exercise on calculating the area of the isosceles triangle

Given that:
FC=FDFC=FD
CG=4CG= 4
FG=5FG = 5 The median of the base

Calculate the area

Solution: Let's remember that, in an isosceles triangle, the median of the base is also the height, therefore, we can use it in the formula for the area of the isosceles triangle. Let's note: Height FG=5FG=5
Now let's see that we have only half of the base CG=4CG =4 .
Since FGFG is given as the median, we can deduce that also GB=4GB=4 and consequently, the entire side of the base CD=8CD=8
Now let's put it in the formula:
4Ɨ82=16\frac{4\times 8}{2}=16
The area of the triangle FDCFDC is 1616 cm2 .


Do you know what the answer is?

Bonus exercise (tip) for advanced level

Formula to calculate the area of an isosceles triangle that is also a right triangle:

If you come across calculating the area of an isosceles triangle whose height has not been given, but you know it is a right triangle, it is useful to know the following trick:

A5 - Area of an isosceles triangle that is also a right triangle

Let's see how it is done by applying it in an exercise: Before you, you have an isosceles right triangle ABCABC
Given that AB=ACAB=AC
angle ABC=90ABC = 90
AB=4AB=4

Calculate the area of the triangle

Solution: Let's not be scared of not having data about the height and proceed according to the formula: the triangle is isosceles, therefore AB=AC=3AB=AC=3.

These are the two legs of the triangle - they form a right angle. Consequently, we will obtain:
4Ɨ42=8 \frac{4\times4}{2}=8
The area of the triangle is 88 cm2 .


Examples and exercises with solutions for the area of an isosceles triangle

Exercise #1

Complete the sentence:

To find the area of a right triangle, one must multiply ________________ by each other and divide by 2.

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve this problem, begin by identifying the elements involved in calculating the area of a right triangle. In a right triangle, the two sides that form the right angle are known as the legs. These legs act as the base and height of the triangle.

The formula for the area of a triangle is given by:

A=12ƗbaseƗheight A = \frac{1}{2} \times \text{base} \times \text{height}

In the case of a right triangle, the base and height are the two legs. Therefore, the process of finding the area involves multiplying the lengths of the two legs together and then dividing the product by 2.

Based on this analysis, the correct way to complete the sentence in the problem is:

To find the area of a right triangle, one must multiply the two legs by each other and divide by 2.

Answer

the two legs

Exercise #2

Calculate the area of the following triangle:

444555AAABBBCCCEEE

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

The formula for calculating the area of a triangle is:

(the side * the height from the side down to the base) /2

That is:

BCƗAE2 \frac{BC\times AE}{2}

We insert the existing data as shown below:

4Ɨ52=202=10 \frac{4\times5}{2}=\frac{20}{2}=10

Answer

10

Exercise #3

Calculate the area of the triangle using the data in the figure below.

101010222AAABBBCCC

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve the problem of finding the area of triangle ā–³ABC \triangle ABC , we follow these steps:

  • Step 1: Identify the given measurements.
  • Step 2: Use the appropriate formula for the area of a triangle.
  • Step 3: Calculate the area using these measurements.

Let's go through each step in detail:
Step 1: From the figure, the base AB=10 AB = 10 and height AC=2 AC = 2 .
Step 2: The formula for the area of a triangle is: Area=12ƗbaseƗheight \text{Area} = \frac{1}{2} \times \text{base} \times \text{height} .
Step 3: Substituting the known values into the formula, we get:

Area=12Ɨ10Ɨ2=12Ɨ20=10 \text{Area} = \frac{1}{2} \times 10 \times 2 = \frac{1}{2} \times 20 = 10

Therefore, the area of triangle ā–³ABC \triangle ABC is 10.

Answer

10

Exercise #4

Calculate the area of the triangle using the data in the figure below.

444777AAABBBCCC8.06

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve for the area of a triangle when the base and height are given, we'll use the formula:

Area=12ƗbaseƗheight \text{Area} = \frac{1}{2} \times \text{base} \times \text{height}

Given:

  • Base = 44 units

  • Height = 77 units

Apply the formula:

Area=12Ɨ4Ɨ7=12Ɨ28=14 \begin{aligned} \text{Area} &= \frac{1}{2} \times 4 \times 7 \\ &= \frac{1}{2} \times 28 \\ &= 14 \end{aligned}

Thus, the area of the triangle is 1414 square units.

Answer

14

Exercise #5

Calculate the area of the following triangle:

4.54.54.5777AAABBBCCCEEE

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

To find the area of the triangle, we will use the formula for the area of a triangle:

Area=12ƗbaseƗheight \text{Area} = \frac{1}{2} \times \text{base} \times \text{height}

From the problem:

  • The length of the base BC BC is given as 7 units.
  • The height from point A A perpendicular to the base BC BC is given as 4.5 units.

Substitute the given values into the area formula:

Area=12Ɨ7Ɨ4.5 \text{Area} = \frac{1}{2} \times 7 \times 4.5

Calculate the expression step-by-step:

Area=12Ɨ31.5 \text{Area} = \frac{1}{2} \times 31.5

Area=15.75 \text{Area} = 15.75

Therefore, the area of the triangle is 15.75 15.75 square units. This corresponds to the given choice: 15.75 15.75 .

Answer

15.75

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