Triangle STU, with vertices S(3,-8), T(8,-7), and U(4,-5), is drawn inside a rectangle.What is the area, in square units, of triangle STU?

Answer 1

To find the area of triangle STU, we can use the formula for the area of a triangle given its three vertices:

Area = 1/2 * |x1(y2 - y3) + x2(y3 - y1) + x3(y1 - y2)|

Substitute the coordinates of the vertices into the formula:

Area = 1/2 * |3(-7 - (-5)) + 8(-5 - (-8)) + 4(-8 - (-7))|
Area = 1/2 * |3(-2) + 8(3) + 4(-1)|
Area = 1/2 * |-6 + 24 - 4|
Area = 1/2 * 14
Area = 7

Therefore, the area of triangle STU is 7 square units.