How to find the area of a right triangle
In a right triangle, two sides are perpendicular to each other. So, one will be the height of the triangle and the other will be the base of the triangle. Thus, even, if the height or base is unstated, you are given them if you know the side lengths. So, you can use the Area=12(bh) formula to find the area.
Moreover, you can also use this formula if you know one side, plus the length of the hypotenuse. Furthermore, the hypotenuse is the longest side of the right triangle and is opposite to the right triangle using the Pythagorean Theorem (a2+b2=c2.
Suppose, if the hypotenuse of a triangle is side c, and the height and base would be the other two sides (a and b). Moreover, if you knew that the hypotenuse is 5cm and the base 4cm. so you can find the height by Pythagorean Theorem.
a2+b2=c2
a2+42=52
a2+16=25
a2+16–16=25–16
a2=9
a=3
So put the value in the area formula, and use two perpendicular side (a and b) to substitute the base and height:
Area=12(bh)
Area=12(4)(3)
Area=12(12)
Area=6
So, the area of a triangle is 6cm2.