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: To find the area of a triangle, multiply the base by the height, then take half, because a triangle is half of a rectangle.
Model to copy — Example · Area of a triangle
- A triangle-shaped garden has a base of 12 feet and a height of 8 feet. Find its area.
- Write the area formula for a triangle: A = 1/2 × b × h
- Multiply the base by the height: 12 × 8 = 96
- Take half of the product: 1/2 × 96 = 48
- 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 do one together: A triangle has a base of 10 cm and a height of 6 cm. Find its area. Multiply the base by the height. What do you get? (10 × 6 = 60) Now take half. What is half of 60? (60 ÷ 2 = 30) What units does the area use? (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?
- A13 square cm
- B26 square cm
- C40 square cm
- D40 cubic cm
- 3
Warm restartWhat is the area of a parallelogram with base 9 in and height 4 in?
- A13 square in
- B18 square in
- C26 square in
- D36 square in
- 4
Warm restartIn a parallelogram, how is the height measured?
- AAlong the slanted side
- BPerpendicular to the base
- 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?
- A34 sq ft
- B70 sq ft
- C140 sq ft
- D280 sq ft
Why is that the answer?
I chose ___ because ___ .
- 6
Think it throughHow many cans of paint does she need?
- A2
- B2.8
- C3
- 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 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 ___.
- Two lines that meet at a 90° angle are ___.
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?
- A19 sq in
- B44 sq in
- C44 in
- D88 sq 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?
- A18 sq in
- B36 sq in
- C65 sq in
- D65 in
- 14
From Lesson 5.1Why use the height instead of the slanted side length?
- ABecause the slanted side is always longer
- BBecause parallelograms have no height
- CBecause the base is on the bottom
- DBecause area needs the perpendicular distance between the two bases
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: To find the area of a triangle, multiply the base by the height, then take half… | |||
| 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