What is the formula for the area of a triangle?

The formula for the area of a triangle is derived from the concept of calculating the area of a rectangle. The area of a rectangle is given by the formula length × width. A triangle can be thought of as half of a rectangle when split along one of its diagonals.

To find the area of a triangle, you take the base and multiply it by the height, which is the perpendicular distance from the base to the opposite vertex. However, since a triangle occupies half the area of a rectangle with the same base and height, the formula for the area of a triangle is obtained by dividing the product of the base and height by 2.

Thus, the correct formula is Area = (base × height) / 2. This accurately reflects the geometric characteristics of a triangle and allows for precise calculations of its area based on its dimensions.