Area of a triangle (base and height)

P=\tfrac12 a h

Result unit: area units

What it describes

The area of a triangle is half the product of the base and the height dropped onto it.

P

area

a

base

h

height

The simplest formula for the area of a triangle — half the product of the base and the height dropped onto it. It works for any triangle.

When you know a base and its corresponding height.

The base is 6 and the height is 4. Find the area of the triangle.

Substitution

a=6

h=4

Result

P=\tfrac12\cdot6\cdot4=12

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