Area of a Triangle equals one-half the base times the height ........ A = 1/2 x b x h
Bottom triangle: Base is the long side of the rectangle, height is the sqrt(7) AB = 1/2 x 8 x sqrt(7)
Top triangle: Base is the long side of the rectangle, height is [short side minus sqrt(7)] AT = 1/2 x 8 x [7 – sqrt(7)]
Calculate the areas of the two triangles and add them together.
1/2 x 8 x sqrt(7) = + 4 sqrt(7)
1/2 x 8 x [7 – sqrt(7)] = 28 – 4 sqrt(7)
add together = 28
Hmmm. This makes me wonder. If the lines inside the rectangle were made of rubber bands so that you could move their connection point anywhere around in there, would the area of the shaded part always be half of the area of the rectangle? I'm not saying that would happen, I'm just wondering it because the area came out half in this instance.
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