Area of Obtuse Triangle - Math Steps, Examples & Questions

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Area of obtuse triangle

Here you will learn about how to find the area of obtuse triangles, including what formula to use and how to apply it to different situations.

Students will first learn about the area of obtuse triangles as part of geometry in $6$ th grade.

What is the area of an obtuse triangle?

The area of an obtuse triangle is the amount of space inside an obtuse triangle.

An obtuse-angled triangle is a type of triangle with one obtuse angle.

The general formula to find the area of any triangle is half of the product of the base times height:

$\text { Area of a triangle }=\cfrac{\text { base } \times \text { height }}{2}$

This can also be written as the following formula:

$A=\cfrac{1}{2} \, b h$

where $b$ is the base length and $h$ is the height of the triangle.

The space inside of shapes is measured in square units, so the final answer must be given in $\text { units }^2.$ For example, $\mathrm{cm}^2, \mathrm{~m}^2, \mathrm{~mm}^2.$

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For example,

What is the area of the obtuse triangle?

$A=\cfrac{1}{2} \, b h$

The height is always the perpendicular distance from the base to the top of the triangle.

$\begin{aligned} & A=\cfrac{1}{2} \times 5 \times 3 \\\\ & A=7.5 \end{aligned}$

The area of the obtuse triangle is $7.5 \mathrm{ft}^2.$

For example,

What is the area of the obtuse triangle?

$A=\cfrac{1}{2} \, b h$

The height is always the perpendicular distance from the base to the top of the triangle.

$\begin{aligned} & A=\frac{1}{2} \times 12 \times 4.1 \\\\ & A=24.6 \end{aligned}$

The area of the obtuse triangle is $24.6~{ft}^2.$

What is the area of an obtuse triangle?

Common Core State Standards

How does this relate to $6$ th grade math?

Grade 6 – Geometry (6.G.A.1)
Find the area of right triangles, other triangles, special quadrilaterals, and polygons by composing into rectangles or decomposing into triangles and other shapes; apply these techniques in the context of solving real-world and mathematical problems.

How to find the area of obtuse triangles

In order to find the area of obtuse triangles:

Identify the base and perpendicular height of the triangle.
Write the area formula.
Substitute known values into the area formula.
Solve the equation.
Write the answer, including the units.

Area of obtuse triangles examples

Example 1: given base length and height

Find the area of this triangle:

Identify the base and perpendicular height of the triangle.

$b = 11 \, m$

$h = 7 \, m$

2Write the area formula.

$A=\cfrac{1}{2} \, b h$

3Substitute known values into the area formula.

$\begin{aligned} A & =\cfrac{1}{2} \, b h \\\\ & =\cfrac{1}{2} \, (11)(7) \end{aligned}$

4Solve the equation.

$\begin{aligned} A & =\cfrac{1}{2} \, b h \\\\ & =\cfrac{1}{2} \, (11)(7) \\\\ & =38.5 \end{aligned}$

5Write the answer, including the units.

$A=38.5 \mathrm{~m}^2$

Remember: Your final answer must be in square units.

Example 2: given base length and height

Calculate the area of the triangle below:

Identify the base and perpendicular height of the triangle.

Rotating the triangle makes it easier to identify the base and height.

$b = 4~{m}$

$h = 90~{cm}$

Notice there are $2$ different units here. You must convert them to a common unit:
$90~{cm} = 0.9~{m}$

$b = 4~{m}$

$h = 0.9~{m}$

Write the area formula.

$A=\cfrac{1}{2} \, b h$

Substitute known values into the area formula.

$\begin{aligned} A & =\cfrac{1}{2} \, b h \\\\ & =\cfrac{1}{2} \, (4)(0.9) \end{aligned}$

Solve the equation.

$\begin{aligned} A & =\cfrac{1}{2} \, b h \\\\ & =\cfrac{1}{2} \, (4)(0.9) \\\\ & =1.8 \end{aligned}$

Write the answer, including the units.

$A=1.8~{m}^2$

Example 3: word problem with 3 measurements given

Shown below is a triangular-shaped field. Each horse needs $2,000 \mathrm{~m}^2$ to graze. How many horses can fit into this field?

Identify the base and perpendicular height of the triangle.

$b = 412~{m}$

$h = 237.6~{m}$

Note: The $308~{m}$ is not needed to solve this question. It is extra information.

Write the area formula.

$A=\cfrac{1}{2} \, b h$

Substitute known values into the area formula.

$\begin{aligned} A & =\cfrac{1}{2} \, b h \\\\ & =\cfrac{1}{2} \, (412)(237.6) \end{aligned}$

Solve the equation.

$\begin{aligned} A & =\cfrac{1}{2} \, b h \\\\ & =\cfrac{1}{2} \, (412)(237.6) \\\\ & =48,945.6 \end{aligned}$

Write the answer, including the units.

$A=48,945.6~{m}^2$

Now to calculate how many horses will fit into the field, take $48,945.6~{m}^2$ and divide it by $2,000~{m}^2,$ because each horse needs that much space to graze on the field.

$48,945.6 \div 2,000=24.4728$

The quotient has $24$ wholes and $4,728$ ten-thousandths. There cannot be part of a horse and $24.4728$ is not enough for $25$ horses. So, $24$ horses will fit in the field.

Example 4: given many dimensions

Find the area of the triangle below:

Identify the base and perpendicular height of the triangle.

$b = 23 \text{ inches}$

$h = 19.9 \text{ inches}$

Write the area formula.

$A=\cfrac{1}{2} \, b h$

Substitute known values into the area formula.

$\begin{aligned} A & =\cfrac{1}{2} \, b h \\\\ & =\cfrac{1}{2} \, (23)(19.9) \end{aligned}$

Solve the equation.

$\begin{aligned} A & =\cfrac{1}{2} \, b h \\\\ & =\cfrac{1}{2} \, (23)(19.9) \\\\ & =228.85 \end{aligned}$

Write the answer, including the units.

$A=228.85 \text { inches}^2$

Example 5: compound shapes

Below is the outline of an arrow head formed by two congruent triangles. Calculate the area of the arrow head.

Identify the base and perpendicular height of the triangle.

$b = 8.1~{cm}$

$h = 6~{cm}$

Write the area formula.

$A=\cfrac{1}{2} \, b h$

Substitute known values into the area formula.

$\begin{aligned} A & =\cfrac{1}{2} \, b h \\\\ & =\cfrac{1}{2} \, (8.1)(6) \end{aligned}$

Solve the equation.

$\begin{aligned} A & =\frac{1}{2} \, b h \\\\ & =\frac{1}{2} \, (8.1)(6) \\\\ & =24.3 \end{aligned}$

Write the answer, including the units.

The area of one triangle is $24.3~{cm}^2,$ so multiply by $2$ to calculate the area of both triangles.

$24.3 \mathrm{~cm}^2 \times 2=48.6 \mathrm{~cm}^2$

Example 6: calculating base length

Triangle $ABC$ is an obtuse triangle with an area of $21~{cm}^2.$ The height of the triangle is $7~{cm}.$ Find the length of the base of the triangle.

Identify the base and perpendicular height of the triangle.

$\begin{aligned} & A=21 \mathrm{~cm}^2 \\\\ & b= \, ? \\\\ & h=7 \mathrm{~cm} \end{aligned}$

Write the area formula.

$A=\cfrac{1}{2} \, b h$

Substitute known values into the area formula.

$\begin{aligned} & A=\cfrac{1}{2} \, b h \\\\ & 21=\cfrac{1}{2} \times b \times 7 \\\\ & 21=\cfrac{1}{2} \times 7 \times b \\\\ & 21=3.5 \times b \end{aligned}$

Solve the equation.

$21=3.5 \times b$

To solve, find what times $3.5$ is equal to $21.$ Since $3.5 \times 6=21,$ the base is $6.$

Write the answer, including the units.

$b=6 \mathrm{~cm}$

The units are not squared, because the base is the length of the bottom of the triangle (one-dimensional), not the square units within the triangle (two-dimensional).

Teaching tips for area of obtuse triangles

Be sure to expose students to all types of obtuse triangles (including isosceles triangles and scalene triangles) and in all different orientations. It is crucial that students learn how to identify the base and the height no matter what type of triangle or its position. Always look for worksheets, quizzes or study materials that provide this type of variety.

Easy mistakes to make

Using the wrong measurement as the base or the height
Since none of the sides of the triangle in an obtuse triangle are perpendicular, the height will not correlate with a side – but will either be inside or outside the triangle. When a side of the triangle is chosen for a base, there must be a measurement that goes from the base to the top of the triangle at a $90$ degree angle.
For example,

Forgetting to write the units
It is common to forget the units for area in the final answer. When calculating the area, the answer must always have units squared.

Thinking that obtuse triangles have all obtuse angles
All interior angles of a triangle add up to $180$ degrees. Since an obtuse angle measures more than $90$ degrees, the other two angles of the triangle together measure less than $90$ degrees, making both of them acute.

Practice area of obtuse triangles questions

62~{cm}^{2}

114 \mathrm{~cm}^2

228 \mathrm{~cm}^2

118 \mathrm{~cm}^2

Identify the base and perpendicular height of the triangle.

Area of Obtuse Triangle 18 US

$\begin{aligned} A & =\cfrac{1}{2} \, b h \\\\ & =\cfrac{1}{2} \, (19)(12) \\\\ & =114 \mathrm{~cm}^2 \end{aligned}$

1.48 \mathrm{~cm}^2

2.96 \mathrm{~cm}^2

14,800 \mathrm{~cm}^2

29,600 \mathrm{~cm}^2

Area of Obtuse Triangle 20 US

Notice there are $2$ different units here. You must convert them to a common unit:

$3.7~{m} = 370~{cm}$

$\begin{aligned} A & =\frac{1}{2} \, b h \\\\ & =\frac{1}{2} \, (370)(80) \\\\ & =14,800 \mathrm{~cm}^2 \end{aligned}$

57.5 \text { inches}^2

66.1 \text { inches}^2

78 \text { inches}^2

145 \text { inches}^2

Identify the base and perpendicular height of the triangle.

Area of Obtuse Triangle 22 US

$\begin{aligned} A & =\cfrac{1}{2} \, b h \\\\ & =\cfrac{1}{2} \, (11.5)(10) \\\\ & =57.5 \text { inches}^2 \end{aligned}$

51.46 \mathrm{ft}^2

25.73 \mathrm{ft}^2

12.4 \mathrm{ft}^2

24.8 \mathrm{ft}^2

Remember, the height and base are always perpendicular to each other.

Area of Obtuse Triangle 24 US

$\begin{aligned} A & =\frac{1}{2} \, b h \\\\ & =\frac{1}{2} \, (6.2)(4) \\\\ & =12.4 \mathrm{ft}^2 \end{aligned}$

The area of one triangle is $12.4~{ft}^2,$ so multiply by $2$ to calculate the area of the entire shape.

$12.4~{ft}^2 \times 2=24.8~{ft}^2$

8 \mathrm{~m}^2

7.3 \mathrm{~m}^2

14.6 \mathrm{~m}^2

11.4 \mathrm{~m}^2

Area of Obtuse Triangle 26 US

$\begin{aligned} A & =\frac{1}{2} \, b h \\\\ & =\frac{1}{2} \, (3.65)(4) \\\\ & =7.3 \mathrm{~m}^2 \end{aligned}$

26 \mathrm{~cm}

7.5 \mathrm{~cm}

2 \mathrm{~cm}

15 \mathrm{~cm}

The area of a triangle is calculated with the formula: $A=\cfrac{1}{2} \, b h$

$\begin{aligned} & A=30 \mathrm{~cm}^2 \\\\ & b= \, ? \\\\ & h=4 \mathrm{~cm} \end{aligned}$

$\begin{aligned} & A=\cfrac{1}{2} \, b h \\\\ & 30=\cfrac{1}{2} \times b \times 4 \\\\ & 30=\cfrac{1}{2} \times 4 \times b \\\\ & 30=2 \times b \end{aligned}$

To solve, find what times $2$ is equal to $30.$ Since $2 \times 15=30,$ the base is $15.$

Area of obtuse triangles FAQs

How do you find the perimeter of an obtuse triangle?

To find the perimeter, add up all three sides of an obtuse triangle.

Why can an obtuse triangle not be an equilateral triangle?

The lengths of the sides of an equilateral triangle are always the same. This causes all the angles to be equal and therefore acute angles, making it an acute triangle. Since the sides of a triangle that has an obtuse angle will never be equilateral, an obtuse triangle can only be an isosceles triangle or a scalene triangle.

What is the pythagorean theorem?

The pythagorean theorem explains a relationship between the sides of all right triangles. It is used in trigonometry to find a missing third side measurement.

What is the hypotenuse?

For a right-angled triangle, the longest side of the triangle is called the hypotenuse. It is opposite of the vertex angle measuring $90$ degrees.

What is the Heron’s formula?

It is a formula that can be used to calculate the area of a triangle, given the measurements of each side.

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