Question

Joe found the area of a triangle by writing A=1/2(11 in.)(4 in.), while Kaitlin found the area by writing A=1/2(3 in.)(4 in.) + 1/2( 8 in.)(4 in.). explain how each student approached the problem.

Answer 1

Ok so remember distributive property
a(b+c)=ab+ac so

1/2(11)(4)=1/2(3)4+1/2(8)(4)
aka

(1/2*4)(11)=(1/2*4)(3+8)(1/2*4)(3)+(1/2*4)(8)
the 1/2*4 bit was the 'a' and the 3 was b and 8 was c