What is the formula for the area of a triangle?

The formula for the area of a triangle is defined as half the product of its base and height. This is mathematically represented as Area = 1/2 × base × height. The reason this formula is used is that the area of a triangle can be thought of as a slice of a rectangle. If you imagine a rectangle that has the same base and height as a triangle, the area of the rectangle is simply base times height. Since a triangle is exactly half of that rectangle when divided by a diagonal, it follows that the area of the triangle is half of that rectangle's area, leading to the formula of 1/2 × base × height.

This formula is fundamental in geometry and applies to all triangles, regardless of their type, making it a crucial concept for students to master.