California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) Math Practice Exam

If a triangle has a height of 5 cm and a base of 10 cm, what is its area?

1. 15 cm²

2. 25 cm²

3. 30 cm²

4. 40 cm²

The correct answer is: 25 cm²

To find the area of a triangle, the formula used is: \[ \text{Area} = \frac{1}{2} \times \text{base} \times \text{height} \] In this case, the base is 10 cm and the height is 5 cm. Plugging these values into the formula: \[ \text{Area} = \frac{1}{2} \times 10 \text{ cm} \times 5 \text{ cm} \] Calculating it step by step: 1. Multiply the base by the height: \( 10 \text{ cm} \times 5 \text{ cm} = 50 \text{ cm}^2 \) 2. Now, take half of that result: \( \frac{1}{2} \times 50 \text{ cm}^2 = 25 \text{ cm}^2 \) Thus, the area of the triangle is correctly calculated to be 25 cm². This aligns with the answer provided, showing a clear grasp of how to apply the area formula for triangles.