Question

A right triangle has a height of 10 feet and an base of 4x^2y+2xy^2 feet. Find the area.show work to justify your answer (a=1/2)

Answer 1

Givens
h = 10
b = 4x^y + 2xy^2

Formula
Area = 1/2 b * h

Solution
Substitute the givens into the formula
Area = 1/2 * 10 * (4x^2y + 2xy^2)
Area = 5 * (4x^2y + 2xy^2)        What to do next? I would remove the brackets 
Area = 5 * 4x^2y + 5 * 2xy^2
Area = 20x^2y + 10xy^2         <<<< Answer

Also possible is to take out more common factors.
The common factor of 4x^2y + 2xy^2 is 2xy and what is left over is 2x + y

So you would have Area = 5*2xy(2x + y) 

If you have been given answers please list them.