Equilateral Triangles

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1

Triangle A: A right triangle with sides length , , and .

Triangle B: An equilateral triangle with side lengths .

Which triangle has a greater area?

Triangle B

Triangle A

The areas of the two triangles are the same.

There is not enough information given to determine which triangle has a greater area.

Explanation

The formula for the area of a right triangle is , where is the length of the triangle's base and is its height. Since the longest side is the hypotenuse, use the two smaller numbers given as sides for the base and height in the equation to calculate the area of Triangle A:

The formula for the area of an equilateral triangle is , where is the length of each side. (Alternatively, you can divide the equilateral triangle into two right triangles and find the area of each). Triangle B's area is thus calculated as:

To determine which of the two areas is greater without using a calculator, rewrite the areas of the two triangles with comparable factors. Triangle A's area can be expressed as , and Triangle B's area can be expressed as . Since is greater than , the product of the factors of Triangle B's area will be greater than the product of the factors of Triangle A's, so Triangle B has the greater area.

2

What is the height of an equilateral triangle with side 6?

Explanation

When you draw the height in an equilateral triangle, it makes two 30-60-90 triangles. Because of that relationship, the height (which is across from the ) is .

3

What is the height of an equilateral triangle with side 6?

Explanation

When you draw the height in an equilateral triangle, it makes two 30-60-90 triangles. Because of that relationship, the height (which is across from the ) is .

4

Triangle A: A right triangle with sides length , , and .

Triangle B: An equilateral triangle with side lengths .

Which triangle has a greater area?

Triangle B

Triangle A

The areas of the two triangles are the same.

There is not enough information given to determine which triangle has a greater area.

Explanation

The formula for the area of a right triangle is , where is the length of the triangle's base and is its height. Since the longest side is the hypotenuse, use the two smaller numbers given as sides for the base and height in the equation to calculate the area of Triangle A:

The formula for the area of an equilateral triangle is , where is the length of each side. (Alternatively, you can divide the equilateral triangle into two right triangles and find the area of each). Triangle B's area is thus calculated as:

To determine which of the two areas is greater without using a calculator, rewrite the areas of the two triangles with comparable factors. Triangle A's area can be expressed as , and Triangle B's area can be expressed as . Since is greater than , the product of the factors of Triangle B's area will be greater than the product of the factors of Triangle A's, so Triangle B has the greater area.

5

Find the area of an equilateral triangle whose perimeter is

Explanation

The formula for the perimeter of an equilateral triangle is:

Plugging in our values, we get

The formula for the area of an equilateral triangle is:

Plugging in our values, we get

6

What is the area of an equilateral triangle with side 11?

Explanation

Since the area of a triangle is

you need to find the height of the triangle first. Because of the 30-60-90 relationship, you can determine that the height is .

Then, multiply that by the base (11).

Finally, divide it by two to get 52.4.

7

Solve for the value of X in the following equilateral triangle:

Screen_shot_2014-02-27_at_6.35.43_pm

Explanation

If we draw a line segment between X and the base of the triangle, we form a triangle.

We can use the relationships between the sides of a triangle in order to find the length of X.

We know the base opposite the is .

The value of the height opposite the must then be , or .

Therefore, the value of X will be twice the value of the height:

8

Solve for the value of X in the following equilateral triangle:

Screen_shot_2014-02-27_at_6.35.43_pm

Explanation

If we draw a line segment between X and the base of the triangle, we form a triangle.

We can use the relationships between the sides of a triangle in order to find the length of X.

We know the base opposite the is .

The value of the height opposite the must then be , or .

Therefore, the value of X will be twice the value of the height:

9

Find the area of an equilateral triangle whose perimeter is

Explanation

The formula for the perimeter of an equilateral triangle is:

Plugging in our values, we get

The formula for the area of an equilateral triangle is:

Plugging in our values, we get

10

What is the area of an equilateral triangle with side 11?

Explanation

Since the area of a triangle is

you need to find the height of the triangle first. Because of the 30-60-90 relationship, you can determine that the height is .

Then, multiply that by the base (11).

Finally, divide it by two to get 52.4.

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