Find Area of a Triangle w/ Square Root Problem

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To find the area of a right triangle, the formula A = 1/2bh is used, where b is the base and h is the height. In this case, the area is calculated as A = 1/2(15)(15√3). The discussion highlights the confusion between evaluating an expression and finding the area of a geometric figure. A scientific calculator simplifies the calculation process significantly. Overall, using available tools like a calculator or computer can enhance problem-solving efficiency.
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sorry, i know this isn't that difficult of a problem but the square root is messing me up. OK I am told to find the area of a right triangle. Now i know the area of a right triangle is A=1/2bh but i haven't encountered this type of problem before. OK so now A=1/2(15)(15 square root of 3), how would i go about figuring this out?
 
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A=1/2(15)(15 square root of 3),
Your expression is somewhat confusing.
how would i go about figuring this out?
What is "this" in your question?
 
nevermind i got it, i needed to find the area of that expression. I went out and bought a scientific calculator and...funny that makes things a lot easier. haha
 
Well, you didn't "find the area of that expression"! "Expressions" don't have areas, only plane geometric figures do. What you did was evaluate the expression which gives the area of the triangle. (I have a friend who says mathematicians are "anal-retentive"- but she is basing that on a very small sample!)

Yes, a calculator is certainly the best way to do such a calculation.

By the way- since you are putting this on the internet, you clearly have access to a computer and "Windows", at least, comes with a "calculator".
You could have used that!
 
Seemingly by some mathematical coincidence, a hexagon of sides 2,2,7,7, 11, and 11 can be inscribed in a circle of radius 7. The other day I saw a math problem on line, which they said came from a Polish Olympiad, where you compute the length x of the 3rd side which is the same as the radius, so that the sides of length 2,x, and 11 are inscribed on the arc of a semi-circle. The law of cosines applied twice gives the answer for x of exactly 7, but the arithmetic is so complex that the...

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