Question

FAN+MEDAL

Given acute triangle ABC, find the area with the given information:

Altitude (height): 7.5

Answer 1

Do you have more information?

Answer 2

@wolf1728 Unfortunately not, otherwise I may have been able to solve this myself. I've checked the question/steps numerous times, and no further information is provided beside the altitude/height. Triangle ABC is acute, with Segment BD (height) being perpendicular to segment AC.

Answer 3

@wolf1728 Thank you for taking interest, btw! :-)

Answer 4

It's possible that it's just written poorly, and it actually wants me to write an equation to solve it as if I was given more information/measurements/angles.

Answer 5

this is all what is given? starnge

Answer 6

The best I could say is triangle area = (1/2) * base * height
area = (1/2) *base * 7.5
area = 3.75 * base

Answer 7

@AlexandervonHumboldt2 I completely agree! Very odd...

Answer 8

maybe we can use law of sines or cosines

let me see

Answer 9

@wolf1728 That makes sense given the available information. However, this is in the unit of trigonometric ratios, so I believe it expects me to use the law of sines / cosines as @AlexandervonHumboldt2 just pointed out :)

Answer 10

There are 2 other triangle area formulas but they require knowing all 3 sides or 2 sides and the included angle

Answer 11

Area = (1/2) * side 1 * side 2 * sine (A)
where A is the included angle

Answer 12

@wolf1728 I think you're on to something. It says I should be able to use the formula A = 1/2 a X b X sinC

Answer 13

law of sines don't seem to be usable

let me see if cosines.......

Answer 14

there is not enough info for using both sines and cosines

there should be another method

Answer 15

As I said there are 3 formulas for finding triangle area but we don't have enough information to use any of them.

Answer 16

The frustrating part is that the tool the problem is given on can give me all the angle measures / side lengths, but that would be skipping the steps.

Answer 17

If you know the angles that would provide a solution.

Answer 18

@wolf1728 I agree. I'm just going to write the solution to finding the area with the given information without solving it, as it is literally impossible to solve without more information. Thank you both @wolf1728 @AlexandervonHumboldt2 for your wonderful help! Have a wonderful night you guys!

Answer 19

u r welcome - glad to help

Answer 20

:)

however this problem will confuse me all night lol