What is the formula used to calculate the area of a triangle?

The formula used to calculate the area of a triangle is indeed determined by the equation (base x height) / 2. This formula derives from the concept of finding the area of a rectangle, which is base times height. Since a triangle is essentially half of a rectangle when you split it diagonally, dividing the product of the base and height by 2 gives you the correct area for a triangle.

In applying this formula, it's important to recognize that the 'base' refers to any side of the triangle that you choose to consider as the base, while the 'height' is the perpendicular distance from the base to the opposite vertex. This ensures that the area reflects the actual space the triangle covers.

This understanding clarifies why the other options do not represent the correct area calculation for a triangle. The option that simply multiplies base and height does not account for the triangular shape, as it implies a complete rectangle rather than half of it. The other two options involve either adding the base and height or making an unnecessary addition after calculating the area, neither of which correctly reflects the relationship between the dimensions of a triangle and its area.