Final answer:
The area of triangle MNO with vertices at M(-8, 1), N (-4,4), and O (-2,1) is calculated using the coordinate geometry method and is found to be 9 square units.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the area of triangle MNO with vertices M(-8, 1), N (-4,4), and O (-2,1), we can use the coordinate geometry method. The formula for the area of a triangle with vertices at (x₁, y₁), (x₂, y₂), and (x₃, y₃) is given by:
Area = |(1/2) × [(x₁(y₂-y₃) + x₂(y₃-y₁) + x₃(y₁-y₂))]|
Substituting our points into this formula:
Area = |(1/2) × [(-8(4-1) + (-4)(1-1) + (-2)(1-4))]|
Area = |(1/2) × [(-8 × 3) + (-4 × 0) + (-2 × -3)]|
Area = |(1/2) × [-24 + 0 + 6]|
Area = |(1/2) × (-18)|
Area = |-9|
The area is always a positive value, so the area of triangle MNO is 9 square units.