Question

The base and height of the triangular mainsail of a sailboat are 1.5 times greater than the base and height of the boat's triangular staysail. How many times greater is the area of the mainsail than the area of the staysail?

Answer 1

Let say the mainsail length and width is L1 and W1, staysail length and width is L2 and W2. 
The base and height of the triangular mainsail of a sailboat are 1.5 times greater than the base and height of the boat's triangular staysail. That mean:
L1 = 1.5L2
W1 =1.5 W2

How many times greater is the area of the mainsail than the area of the staysail?area1/area2 =
L1*W1 / L2*W2 =
1.5L2 * 1.5W2/ L2*W2 = 1.5 * 1.5= 2.25 times