How to find the area of a 45/45/90 right isosceles triangle

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Geometry › How to find the area of a 45/45/90 right isosceles triangle

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If the hypotenuse of a right isosceles triangle is , what is the area of the triangle?

CORRECT

Explanation

An isosceles right triangle is another way of saying that the triangle is a triangle.

Now, recall the Pythagorean Theorem:

$\text{base}^2+\text{height}^2=\text{hypotenuse}^2$

Because we are working with a triangle, the base and the height have the same length. We can rewrite the above equation as the following:

$\text{height}^2+\text{height}^2=\text{hypotenuse}^2$

$2(\text{height})^2=\text{hypotenuse}^2$

$\text{height}^2=\frac{\text{hypotenuse}^2}{2}$

$\text{height}=\sqrt{\frac{\text{hypotenuse}^2}{2}}=\frac{\text{hypotenuse}}{\sqrt2}=\frac{\text{hypotenuse}(\sqrt2)}{2}{}$

Now, plug in the value of the hypotenuse to find the height for the given triangle.

$\text{height}=\frac{24\sqrt2}{2}=12\sqrt2$

Now, recall how to find the area of a triangle:

$\text{Area}=\frac{1}{2}\times\text{base}\times\text{height}$

Since the base and the height are the same length, we can then find the area of the given triangle.

$\text{Area}=\frac{1}{2}(12\sqrt2 \times 12\sqrt2)=144$

If the hypotenuse of a right isosceles triangle is , what is the area of the triangle?

CORRECT

Explanation

An isosceles right triangle is another way of saying that the triangle is a triangle.

Now, recall the Pythagorean Theorem:

$\text{base}^2+\text{height}^2=\text{hypotenuse}^2$

Because we are working with a triangle, the base and the height have the same length. We can rewrite the above equation as the following:

$\text{height}^2+\text{height}^2=\text{hypotenuse}^2$

$2(\text{height})^2=\text{hypotenuse}^2$

$\text{height}^2=\frac{\text{hypotenuse}^2}{2}$

$\text{height}=\sqrt{\frac{\text{hypotenuse}^2}{2}}=\frac{\text{hypotenuse}}{\sqrt2}=\frac{\text{hypotenuse}(\sqrt2)}{2}{}$

Now, plug in the value of the hypotenuse to find the height for the given triangle.

$\text{height}=\frac{18\sqrt2}{2}=9\sqrt2$

Now, recall how to find the area of a triangle:

$\text{Area}=\frac{1}{2}\times\text{base}\times\text{height}$

Since the base and the height are the same length, we can then find the area of the given triangle.

$\text{Area}=\frac{1}{2}(9\sqrt2 \times 9\sqrt2)=81$

Find the area of the triangle if the radius of the circle is .

CORRECT

$\frac{1}{2}$

Explanation

The two tick marks on the image indicate that those sides are congruent; therefore, this is an isosceles right triangle.

Notice that the hypotenuse of the triangle is also the diameter of the circle. Recall the relationship between the diameter of a circle and its radius:

$\text{Hypotenuse}=\text{Diameter}=2\times\text{radius}$

Substitute in the value of the radius to find the length of the diameter.

$\text{Hypotenuse}=2\times 2$

Simplify.

$\text{Hypotenuse}=4$

Now, use the Pythagorean theorem to find the lengths of the missing sides of the triangle.

$\text{side}^2+\text{side}^2=\text{hypotenuse}^2$

$2(\text{side})^2=\text{Hypotenuse}^2$

$\text{side}^2=\frac{\text{Hypotenuse}^2}{2}$

Now, recall how to find the area of a triangle:

$\text{Area}=\frac{\text{base}\times\text{height}}{2}$

In this case, because we have an isosceles right triangle,

$\text{base}=\text{height}=\text{side}$

$\text{Area}=\frac{\text{side}^2}{2}$

Take the equation derived from the Pythagorean theorem and plug it in to the equation above.

$\text{Area}=\frac{\text{Hypotenuse}^2}{2}\times \frac{1}{2}$

Simplify.

$\text{Area}=\frac{\text{Hypotenuse}^2}{4}$

Now, substitute in the value of the hypotenuse to find the area of the triangle.

$\text{Area}=\frac{4^2}{4}$

Solve.

$\text{Area}=4$

Find the area of the triangle if the radius of the circle is $\frac{1}{2}$ .

$\frac{1}{4}$

CORRECT

$\frac{1}{8}$

$\frac{1}{16}$

$\frac{1}{2}$

Explanation

The two tick marks on the image indicate that those sides are congruent; therefore, this is an isosceles right triangle.

Notice that the hypotenuse of the triangle is also the diameter of the circle. Recall the relationship between the diameter of a circle and its radius:

$\text{Hypotenuse}=\text{Diameter}=2\times\text{radius}$

Substitute in the value of the radius to find the length of the diameter.

$\text{Hypotenuse}=2\times \frac{1}{2}$

Simplify.

$\text{Hypotenuse}=1$

Now, use the Pythagorean theorem to find the lengths of the missing sides of the triangle.

$\text{side}^2+\text{side}^2=\text{hypotenuse}^2$

$2(\text{side})^2=\text{Hypotenuse}^2$

$\text{side}^2=\frac{\text{Hypotenuse}^2}{2}$

Now, recall how to find the area of a triangle:

$\text{Area}=\frac{\text{base}\times\text{height}}{2}$

In this case, because we have an isosceles right triangle,

$\text{base}=\text{height}=\text{side}$

$\text{Area}=\frac{\text{side}^2}{2}$

Take the equation derived from the Pythagorean theorem and plug it in to the equation above.

$\text{Area}=\frac{\text{Hypotenuse}^2}{2}\times \frac{1}{2}$

Simplify.

$\text{Area}=\frac{\text{Hypotenuse}^2}{4}$

Now, substitute in the value of the hypotenuse to find the area of the triangle.

$\text{Area}=\frac{1^2}{4}$

Solve.

$\text{Area}=\frac{1}{4}$

Find the area of the triangle if the radius of the circle is .

CORRECT

$\frac{1}{2}$

Explanation

The two tick marks on the image indicate that those sides are congruent; therefore, this is an isosceles right triangle.

Notice that the hypotenuse of the triangle is also the diameter of the circle. Recall the relationship between the diameter of a circle and its radius:

$\text{Hypotenuse}=\text{Diameter}=2\times\text{radius}$

Substitute in the value of the radius to find the length of the diameter.

$\text{Hypotenuse}=2\times 1$

Simplify.

$\text{Hypotenuse}=2$

Now, use the Pythagorean theorem to find the lengths of the missing sides of the triangle.

$\text{side}^2+\text{side}^2=\text{hypotenuse}^2$

$2(\text{side})^2=\text{Hypotenuse}^2$

$\text{side}^2=\frac{\text{Hypotenuse}^2}{2}$

Now, recall how to find the area of a triangle:

$\text{Area}=\frac{\text{base}\times\text{height}}{2}$

In this case, because we have an isosceles right triangle,

$\text{base}=\text{height}=\text{side}$

$\text{Area}=\frac{\text{side}^2}{2}$

Take the equation derived from the Pythagorean theorem and plug it in to the equation above.

$\text{Area}=\frac{\text{Hypotenuse}^2}{2}\times \frac{1}{2}$

Simplify.

$\text{Area}=\frac{\text{Hypotenuse}^2}{4}$

Now, substitute in the value of the hypotenuse to find the area of the triangle.

$\text{Area}=\frac{2^2}{4}$

Solve.

$\text{Area}=1$

If the hypotenuse of a right isosceles triangle is , what is the area of the triangle?

CORRECT

Explanation

An isosceles right triangle is another way of saying that the triangle is a triangle.

Now, recall the Pythagorean Theorem:

$\text{base}^2+\text{height}^2=\text{hypotenuse}^2$

Because we are working with a triangle, the base and the height have the same length. We can rewrite the above equation as the following:

$\text{height}^2+\text{height}^2=\text{hypotenuse}^2$

$2(\text{height})^2=\text{hypotenuse}^2$

$\text{height}^2=\frac{\text{hypotenuse}^2}{2}$

$\text{height}=\sqrt{\frac{\text{hypotenuse}^2}{2}}=\frac{\text{hypotenuse}}{\sqrt2}=\frac{\text{hypotenuse}(\sqrt2)}{2}{}$

Now, plug in the value of the hypotenuse to find the height for the given triangle.

$\text{height}=\frac{40\sqrt2}{2}=20\sqrt2$

Now, recall how to find the area of a triangle:

$\text{Area}=\frac{1}{2}\times\text{base}\times\text{height}$

Since the base and the height are the same length, we can then find the area of the given triangle.

$\text{Area}=\frac{1}{2}(20\sqrt2 \times 20\sqrt2)=400$

Find the area of the triangle if the diameter of the circle is $20\sqrt2$ .

CORRECT

$2\sqrt{211}$

Explanation

Notice that the given triangle is a right isosceles triangle. The hypotenuse of the triangle is the same as the diameter of the circle; therefore, we can use the Pythagorean theorem to find the length of the legs of this triangle.

$\text{Hypotenuse}^2=\text{side}^2+\text{side}^2$

$2(\text{side}^2)=\text{Hypotenuse}^2$

$\text{side}^2=\frac{\text{Hypotenuse}^2}{2}$

$\text{side}=\sqrt{\frac{\text{Hypotenuse}^2}{2}}=\frac{\text{Hypotenuse}\sqrt2}{2}$

Substitute in the given hypotenuse to find the length of the leg of a triangle.

$\text{side}=\frac{20\sqrt2(\sqrt2)}{2}$

Simplify.

$\text{side}=20$

Now, recall how to find the area of a triangle.

$\text{Area}=\frac{\text{base}\times\text{height}}{2}$

Since we have a right isosceles triangle, the base and the height are the same length.

$\text{Area}=\frac{20\times 20}{2}$

Solve.

$\text{Area}=200$

Find the area of the triangle if the radius of the circle is $\frac{11}{2}$ .

$\frac{121}{4}$

CORRECT

$\frac{11}{4}$

$\frac{11\sqrt2}{4}$

$\frac{121}{2}$

Explanation

The two tick marks on the image indicate that those sides are congruent; therefore, this is an isosceles right triangle.

Notice that the hypotenuse of the triangle is also the diameter of the circle. Recall the relationship between the diameter of a circle and its radius:

$\text{Hypotenuse}=\text{Diameter}=2\times\text{radius}$

Substitute in the value of the radius to find the length of the diameter.

$\text{Hypotenuse}=2\times \frac{11}{2}$

Simplify.

$\text{Hypotenuse}=11$

Now, use the Pythagorean theorem to find the lengths of the missing sides of the triangle.

$\text{side}^2+\text{side}^2=\text{hypotenuse}^2$

$2(\text{side})^2=\text{Hypotenuse}^2$

$\text{side}^2=\frac{\text{Hypotenuse}^2}{2}$

Now, recall how to find the area of a triangle:

$\text{Area}=\frac{\text{base}\times\text{height}}{2}$

In this case, because we have an isosceles right triangle,

$\text{base}=\text{height}=\text{side}$

$\text{Area}=\frac{\text{side}^2}{2}$

Take the equation derived from the Pythagorean theorem and plug it in to the equation above.

$\text{Area}=\frac{\text{Hypotenuse}^2}{2}\times \frac{1}{2}$

Simplify.

$\text{Area}=\frac{\text{Hypotenuse}^2}{4}$

Now, substitute in the value of the hypotenuse to find the area of the triangle.

$\text{Area}=\frac{11^2}{4}$

Solve.

$\text{Area}=\frac{121}{4}$

Find the area of the triangle below.

CORRECT

Explanation

The key to finding the area of our triangle is to reaize that it is isosceles and therefore is a 45-45-90 triangle; therefore, we know the legs of our triangle are congruent and that each can be found by dividing the length of the hypotenuse by $\sqrt{2}$ .

$\frac{8}{\sqrt{2}}=\frac{8}{\sqrt{2}}\cdot \frac{\sqrt{2}}{\sqrt{2}}=\frac{8\sqrt{2}}{2}$

Rationalizing the denominator simplifies our result; however, we are interested in the area, not just the length of a leg; we remember that the formula for the area of a triangle is

$A = \frac{1}{2}bh$

where is the base and is the height; however, in our right triangle, the base and height are simply the two legs; therefore, we can calculate the area by substituting.