Question

A right triangle has coordinates ( − 3 , 4 ) , ( 3 , 6 ) , and ( − 1 , − 2 ) . What is the area of the right triangle?

Answer 1

Answer: 20 sq units

Explanation:

A quick sketch graph will show the right angle is at (-3 ,4)

The lengths of the shorter sides are both sqrt(2^2 + 6^2) = sqrt(40)

Area = 1/2 x (sqrt(40))^2 = 20

If you didn’t have a right angle you could find the lengths of all sides a, b and c

Calculate the semi perimeter s = (a+b+c) / 2

And the area = sqrt(s(s-a)(s-b)(s-c))

Try and use this method to check the first one!