Question

plot and connect the points listed below. when you are done, find the area of the triangle.
a(-2, 1), b(2, 1), c(0, -4)
click on the graph to plot a point. click a point to delete it.
when you are done, press \graph figure\ to see the result.

Explanation:

Step1: Find the length of the base

Points A(-2,1) and B(2,1) have the same y - coordinate. The length of AB is the absolute difference of the x - coordinates. So, length of AB = $|2 - (-2)|=|2 + 2| = 4$.

Step2: Find the height of the triangle

The height is the vertical distance from point C(0,-4) to the line AB. Since AB is a horizontal line (y = 1), the height is the absolute difference between the y - coordinate of AB (y = 1) and the y - coordinate of C (y=-4). So, height h = $|1-(-4)|=|1 + 4| = 5$.

Step3: Calculate the area of the triangle

The formula for the area of a triangle is $A=\frac{1}{2}\times base\times height$. Substituting base = 4 and height = 5, we get $A=\frac{1}{2}\times4\times5$.
First, $\frac{1}{2}\times4 = 2$, then $2\times5=10$.

Answer:

10