Mathematics > Standard Multiple Choice
Read the following SAT test question and then click on a button to select your answer.
What is the area of the triangle in the figure above?
A. 4.0
B. 7.5
C. 8.0
D. 8.5
E. 15.0
The correct answer is B
Explanation
Figures in a Coordinate Plane
The figure provides all the information you need to answer the question.
What Is the Question Asking?
You are asked to figure out the area of a triangle that is defined by the points in a coordinate plane.
What Do You Know?
The triangle in the figure is a right triangle with the right angle at the lower left.
Because it is a right triangle, its base and height are the two sides that form the right angle.
The area of a triangle is (1 over 2) times b times h.
The base of the triangle extends from point (0 comma 0) to point (5 comma 0). So it is 5 units long.
The height of the triangle extends from point (0 comma 0) to point (0 comma 3). So it is 3 units long.
Area = (1 over 2) times b times h
(1 over 2) times 3 times 5
(1 over 2) times 15
equals 7.5