a triangular road sign has a height of 8 feet and a base of 16.5 feet. How much larger in area is this sign than one with a height of 4 feet and a base of 8.25 feet?

Please fully explain how you got this cause i'm really confused!!!

4 answers

since the sides of the two similar road signs are in the ratio of 2 : 1
so their areas are proportional to the square of their sides

2^2 : 1^2 = 4 : 1

so the second is 4 times larger.

You could do it the long way, and actually calculate their areas. You will find the the first answer is 4 times the second answer.
Triangle area:

A = bh/2
A = (16.5 * 8)/2
A = 132/2
A = 66 square feet

Find the area of the smaller triangle the same way.
thank you Reiny and Ms. Sue!! I wouldn't be able to make it through my math class without you!
You're welcome, Audrey.