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The vertices of the triangle shown are (-2, 2), (4, -1), and (-2, -3). What is the area of the triangle in square units?

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Answer

The area of the triangle = 15 square units.

Step-by-step explanation

To find the area of the triangle, we need to compute the length of the sides of the triangle required to find the area.

The area of a triangle is give as

Area = ½ × Base × Height

The distance between two points with the coordinates (x₁, y₁) and (x₂, y₂) is given as

d = √[(x₂ - x₁)² + (y₂ - y₁)²]

For the base of the triangle, we calculate the distance between (-2, 2) and (-2, -3)

(x₁, y₁) and (x₂, y₂) is (-2, 2) and (-2, -3) respectively

x₁ = -2

y₁ = 2

x₂ = -2

y₂ = -3

d = √[(-2 - (-2))² + (-3 - 2)²]

d = √[(0)² + (-5)²]

d = √(0 + 25)

d = √25

d = 5 units

For the height of the triangle, we calculate the distance from the coordinates (4, -1) to (-2, -1)

(x₁, y₁) and (x₂, y₂) is (4, -1) and (-2, -1) respectively

x₁ = 4

y₁ = -1

x₂ = -2

y₂ = -1

d = √[(-2 - 4)² + (-1 - (-1))²]

d = √[(-6)² + (0)²]

d = √(36 + 0)

d = √36

d = 6 units

So, the area of the triangle can now be calculated

Base = 5 units

Height = 6 units

Area = ½ × Base × Height

Area = ½ × 5 × 6 = 15 square units.

Hope this Helps!!!

User Meenal
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