Practice Set · Part 1
Determine the Area of Triangles
Pick up where we left off
Where we left off
Our goal: With my small group, I can find the area of a triangle using the formula A = ½ × base × height — one step at a time, with support.
The big idea: Area of a triangle = ½ × base × height. A triangle is exactly half of a rectangle with the same base and height.
Model to copy — Watch me
- My triangular garden has a base of 12 feet and a height of 8 feet.
- I write the formula: A = ½ × base × height.
- I put in the numbers: A = ½ × 12 × 8.
- I multiply base × height first: 12 × 8 = 96.
- I take half: ½ × 96 = 48. So the area is 48 square feet.
Start here
You did these with your group. Now do them on your own — the model above is yours to copy.
- 1
Same stepsFinish what the group started. Use the model above, step for step.
Let's try together: Now a smaller triangle: base = 10 cm, height = 6 cm. First, what is 10 × 6? Yes, 60. Now take half: what is ½ × 60? Yes, 30. So the area is 30 square centimeters.My first step is ___ , because the problem asks for ___ .
Show your work - 2
Warm restartWhat is the area of a rectangle 8 cm long and 5 cm wide?
- A40 square cm
- B26 square cm
- C13 square cm
- D40 cubic cm
- 3
Warm restartWhat is the area of a parallelogram with base 9 in and height 4 in?
- A36 square in
- B13 square in
- C18 square in
- D26 square in
- 4
Warm restartIn a parallelogram, how is the height measured?
- APerpendicular to the base
- BAlong the slanted side
- CAround the outside
- DFrom one corner to the opposite corner
Practice Set · Part 2
Determine the Area of Triangles
Keep going
You answered these out loud. Now write them.
Answer, then say how you know — the reason is the part that counts.
- 5
Think it throughWhat is the area of the triangular wall?
- A140 sq ft
- B280 sq ft
- C34 sq ft
- D70 sq ft
Why is that the answer?
I chose ___ because ___ .
- 6
Think it throughHow many cans of paint does she need?
- A3
- B2
- C2.8
- D4
How do you know?
I chose ___ because ___ .
- 7
Think it throughWhy round up instead of down?
- ABecause 2 cans cover only 100 sq ft, which is not enough for 140
- BBecause paint is always sold in threes
- CBecause 2.8 rounds to 3 by the usual rule
- DBecause the wall might be bigger
Explain your thinking.
I chose ___ because ___ .
- 8
Back to the modelThe triangle fits inside a 12 × 8 rectangle. How does the triangle's area compare to the rectangle's area?
The area of the triangle is ___ the rectangle because A = 1/2 × ___ × ___ = ___ square feet.
Practice Set · Part 3
Determine the Area of Triangles
Words and reasoning
Word bank · Banco de palabras
Use the words
Fill each blank with a word from the bank.
- The space inside a triangle, found with A = ½ × b × h, is the ___.
- The side of a triangle you measure the height from at a 90° angle is the ___.
- The perpendicular distance from the base to the opposite vertex is the ___.
- The amount of flat space inside a triangle is its ___.
Explain the thinking
- 9
Find the mistakeAnother student made this exact mistake in this lesson. Explain why it is wrong, then write what they should have done.
The mistake: A common mistake in Area of Triangles is forgetting the ½ — students multiply base × height like a rectangle and stop there, or they use the triangle's slanted side instead of the perpendicular height that's already given. - 10
Say moreOn the grid your triangle (base 12, height 8) fits inside a 12 by 8 rectangle. Why do we divide by 2 to find the triangle's area?
A triangle is half of a ___ with the same base and height.
- 11
Change one numberGo back to Part 1 and pick one problem you already solved. Change one number in it, then solve your new version. Show every step.
If ___ changed to ___ , then ___ .
Show your work
Practice Set · Part 4
Determine the Area of Triangles
Show what you know
Last check
These two come from Lesson 5.1. If they are shaky, that is the lesson to revisit — not this one.
- 12
Show what you knowQuick check — you've got this: A triangle has a base of 11 inches and a height of 8 inches. What is its area?
- A44 sq in
- B88 sq in
- C19 sq in
- D44 in
Explain your choice.
I know it is ___ because ___ .
- 13
From Lesson 5.1Quick check — you've got this: A parallelogram has a base of 13 inches and a height of 5 inches. What is its area?
- A65 sq in
- B36 sq in
- C18 sq in
- D65 in
- 14
From Lesson 5.1Why use the height instead of the slanted side length?
- ABecause area needs the perpendicular distance between the two bases
- BBecause the slanted side is always longer
- CBecause parallelograms have no height
- DBecause the base is on the bottom
Be honest — this tells your teacher what to do next
| I can… | Not yet | Getting there | Got it |
|---|---|---|---|
| I can find the area of a triangle using the formula A = ½ × base × height — one step at a time, with support. | |||
| I can explain why it works: Area of a triangle = ½ × base × height. A triangle is exactly half of a rectangle with the same base and… | |||
| I can talk through each step out loud using a sentence frame and the lesson's key words. |
One question I want to ask my group next time