How would I solve this question?

All of the triangles in the figure below are congruent. What is the area of the figure? Note that all measurements are in centimeters.

Note that the apothem shown is equal to 2 (sqrt)3

Question

How would I solve this question?

All of the triangles in the figure below are congruent. What is the area of the figure? Note that all measurements are in centimeters.
 
 
Note that the apothem shown is equal to 2 (sqrt)3

anonymous · Answer

attachment

kinggeorge · Answer

A nice easy trick to this problem, is to notice that the area of the equilateral triangles is the same as the area of the hexagon. So you just have to find one to find the total area. The area of the hexagon is $$A={1 \over 2}ap$$where a is the apothem and p is the perimeter. We know the apothem to be $2\sqrt3$ and the perimeter to be $6\cdot4=24$ So the area of the hexagon is$${1 \over 2}48\sqrt3 ={24\sqrt3}$$Therefore, the total area is$$2\cdot(24\sqrt3)=48\sqrt3$$

kinggeorge · Answer

Wait, is the height of the triangle 3? Was I misreading the diagram?

anonymous · Answer

But, that's not an answer. D: 

However, 24 (sqrt)3 ^2 is. WOuld that be it?

anonymous · Answer

The height of the triangle is 3. Yes.

kinggeorge · Answer

If the height of the triangle is 3, then the area of each triangle is $${1\over2}\cdot3\cdot4=6$$So then the answer should be $$24\sqrt3+6\cdot6=24\sqrt3+36$$

kinggeorge · Answer

There are 6 triangles, so that's why I multiplied the 6 by 6.

anonymous · Answer

That is a possible answer. :D

anonymous · Answer

Is that answer squared?

kinggeorge · Answer

No. That's the entire answer. $$24\sqrt3+36 \;\;\;\text{cm}^2$$

anonymous · Answer

Oh, sweet. :D Thanks man!

kinggeorge · Answer

You're welcome.