Compute the area of the triangle using coordinates. What is the area of the triangle in square units?

(1 point)

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*

3.5

7

14

10

A: (2,4)
B: (9,4)
C (3,2)

1 answer

To find the area of the triangle formed by the points A(2, 4), B(9, 4), and C(3, 2) using their coordinates, we can use the formula for the area of a triangle given by its vertices \((x_1, y_1)\), \((x_2, y_2)\), and \((x_3, y_3)\):

\[ \text{Area} = \frac{1}{2} \left| x_1(y_2 - y_3) + x_2(y_3 - y_1) + x_3(y_1 - y_2) \right| \]

Substituting the coordinates of the points:

  • \(A (x_1, y_1) = (2, 4)\)
  • \(B (x_2, y_2) = (9, 4)\)
  • \(C (x_3, y_3) = (3, 2)\)

We plug these values into the formula:

\[ \text{Area} = \frac{1}{2} \left| 2(4 - 2) + 9(2 - 4) + 3(4 - 4) \right| \]

Calculating each term:

\[ = \frac{1}{2} \left| 2 \cdot 2 + 9 \cdot (-2) + 3 \cdot 0 \right| \] \[ = \frac{1}{2} \left| 4 - 18 + 0 \right| \] \[ = \frac{1}{2} \left| -14 \right| \] \[ = \frac{1}{2} \cdot 14 = 7 \]

Thus, the area of the triangle is \(7\) square units.

The answer is \(7\).