Lesson Explainer: Equality of the Areas of Two Triangles | Nagwa Lesson Explainer: Equality of the Areas of Two Triangles | Nagwa

Lesson Explainer: Equality of the Areas of Two Triangles Mathematics • Second Year of Preparatory School

Join Nagwa Classes

Attend live Mathematics sessions on Nagwa Classes to learn more about this topic from an expert teacher!

In this explainer, we will learn how to identify triangles that have the same area when their bases are equal in length and the vertices opposite to these bases are on a parallel line to them.

To see why this result holds true, let’s consider the following scenario.

We have two parallel lines, ⃖⃗𝐴𝐡 and ⃖⃗𝐢𝐷, and two triangles that share a base, △𝐴𝐡𝐢 and △𝐴𝐡𝐷. We can prove that the areas of these triangles are equal by first recalling that the area of a triangle is given by half the length of its base multiplied by its perpendicular height. So, let’s add perpendicular lines from points 𝐢 and 𝐷 to find the perpendicular heights of each triangle.

We will call the points of intersection between these perpendicular lines and the parallel lines ⃖⃗𝐴𝐡 and ⃖⃗𝐢𝐷  𝐸 and 𝐹 as shown. We can note that all the angles in 𝐸𝐢𝐷𝐹 are right angles, since ∠𝐸 and ∠𝐹 are right angles and ⃖⃗𝐢𝐷⫽⃖⃗𝐴𝐡. Thus, 𝐸𝐢𝐷𝐹 is a rectangle. Therefore, the lengths of 𝐢𝐸 and 𝐷𝐹 are equal. We can now show that the areas of the triangles are equal by finding expressions for their areas: areaarea△𝐴𝐡𝐢=12(𝐴𝐡)(𝐢𝐸),△𝐴𝐡𝐷=12(𝐴𝐡)(𝐷𝐹).

Since 𝐢𝐸=𝐷𝐹, we have areaarea△𝐴𝐡𝐢=△𝐴𝐡𝐷.

We have proven the following result.

Theorem: Equality of Areas of Triangles on Parallel Lines

If two triangles share a base and the vertices opposite this base lie on a straight line parallel to the base, then they have equal areas.

Let’s now see an example of applying this theorem to find triangles with equal areas.

Example 1: Finding the Areas of Triangles between Parallel Lines

Which of the following has the same area as △𝐷𝐸𝐡?

  1. △𝐸𝐷𝐢
  2. △𝐹𝐡𝐢
  3. △𝐸𝐹𝐢
  4. 𝐴𝐷𝐹𝐸
  5. 𝐷𝐡𝐢𝐸

Answer

We can answer this question by recalling that two triangles that share a base and have the vertex opposite the base lie on a straight line parallel to the base will have equal areas. We can then note that ⃖⃗𝐷𝐸⫽⃖⃗𝐡𝐢, so any triangle with a base of 𝐷𝐸 and a final vertex on ⃖⃗𝐡𝐢 will have an equal area to △𝐷𝐸𝐡.

In particular, △𝐸𝐷𝐢 shares the base 𝐷𝐸 with △𝐷𝐸𝐡, and its vertex 𝐢 lies on 𝐡𝐢, so it has the same area as △𝐷𝐸𝐡, which is option A.

In our next example, we will need to apply this theorem to determine the area of a triangle.

Example 2: Finding the Areas of Triangles between Parallel Lines

Given that the area of β–³π‘Œπ΄π΅=568cm, find the area of △𝑋𝐢𝐷.

Answer

Let’s start by marking the given triangle and the triangle whose area we wish to find on the given diagram.

We can split each of these triangles into two smaller triangles along the line π‘‹π‘Œ to get the following.

Let’s consider the top two triangles first, as shown.

We note that these triangles share a base, π‘‹π‘Œ, and their opposite vertices 𝐴 and 𝐷 both lie on a line parallel to the base. Hence, we know that these triangles have equal area.

Let’s now consider the bottom two triangles, as shown.

We can once again note that these two triangles share a base, π‘‹π‘Œ, and their opposite vertices 𝐡 and 𝐢 both lie on a line parallel to the base. Hence, we know that these triangles have equal areas.

Since these triangles have the same areas and they combine to make the larger triangles, π‘Œπ΄π΅ and 𝑋𝐢𝐷, these must also have the same area.

Hence, the area of triangle 𝑋𝐢𝐷 is 568 cm2.

In our next example, we will show that if two triangles lie on two parallel lines and they have bases of the same length, then they have the same area.

Example 3: Identifying Triangles with Equal Areas between Parallel Lines

Given that ⃖⃗𝑀𝑋⫽⃖⃗𝐾𝐷, which of the following has the same area as △𝑁𝑀𝐾?

  1. 𝐻𝑁𝐾𝐢
  2. 𝑍𝑂𝑋𝐻
  3. △𝐢𝑍𝐻
  4. △𝐻𝑁𝑍
  5. △𝐢𝑁𝐻

Answer

We are given a pair of parallel lines, so we can use the fact that if two triangles share a base and the vertices opposite this base lie on a straight line parallel to the base, then they have equal areas. If we choose 𝑀𝑁 as the base of the triangle, then we can choose any point on ⃖⃗𝐷𝐾 as the final vertex of the triangle to find a triangle of equal area to △𝑁𝑀𝐾. Hence, △𝑁𝑀𝐾, △𝑁𝑀𝐢, △𝑁𝑀𝑍, △𝑁𝑀𝑂, and △𝑁𝑀𝐷 all have the same area. However, none of these are options for this question.

Instead, let’s use the fact that the area of a triangle is half the length of its base multiplied by its perpendicular height. We choose 𝑀𝑁 as the base of the triangle and can add the perpendicular height β„Ž to the diagram as shown.

Hence, area△𝑁𝑀𝐾=12(𝑀𝑁)Γ—β„Ž.

We can use the same method to determine the areas of △𝐢𝑍𝐻 and △𝑂𝐷𝑋.

We add the perpendicular lines from the bases to the vertex and note that all of the green lines are parallel. We note that since each of these is a transversal of parallel lines, they also meet ⃖⃗𝑀𝑋 at right angles. Thus, they all form rectangles with sections of ⃖⃗𝑀𝑋 and ⃖⃗𝐷𝐾, so each perpendicular line has the same length of β„Ž. Therefore, areaarea△𝐢𝑍𝐻=12(𝐢𝑍)Γ—β„Ž,△𝑂𝐷𝑋=12(𝑂𝐷)Γ—β„Ž.

Finally, since 𝑀𝑁, 𝐢𝑍, and 𝑂𝐷 all have the same length, we can conclude that triangles △𝑁𝑀𝐾, △𝐢𝑍𝐻, and △𝑂𝐷𝑋 all have the same area.

Hence, △𝐢𝑍𝐻 has the same area as △𝑁𝑀𝐾, which is option C.

In the previous example, we showed the following property.

Property: Equality of Areas of Triangles on Parallel Lines

If two triangles lie on two parallel lines and they have bases of the same length, then they have the same area.

In our next example, we will consider how the median of a triangle splits the area of the original triangle.

Example 4: Finding the Areas of Triangles with Congruent Bases

If the area of △𝐷𝐸𝐢=6.99cm, find the area of △𝐴𝐡𝐢.

Answer

We want to determine the area of △𝐴𝐡𝐢 and to do this we are given the area of △𝐷𝐸𝐢. This means that we will want to compare the areas of some triangles to that of △𝐷𝐸𝐢. To do this, we recall that the area of a triangle is half the length of its base multiplied by its perpendicular height. If we choose 𝐢𝐸 to be the base of this triangle, we get the following.

We call the point on the perpendicular 𝐹; we can then see that area△𝐷𝐸𝐢=12(𝐢𝐸)(𝐷𝐹).

From the diagram, we can note that 𝐴𝐸=𝐢𝐸. In fact, this tells us that 𝐷𝐸 is a median of triangle △𝐴𝐢𝐷. Since triangles △𝐷𝐴𝐸 and △𝐷𝐸𝐢 have the same base length, we can check to see if they have the same perpendicular height.

Choosing 𝐴𝐸 as the base, the perpendicular from 𝐷 to ⃖⃗𝐴𝐸 will also intersect at 𝐹, so areaarea△𝐷𝐴𝐸=12(𝐴𝐸)(𝐷𝐹)=12(𝐢𝐸)(𝐷𝐹)=△𝐷𝐸𝐢.

Since these triangles combine to make △𝐴𝐢𝐷, we have areacm△𝐴𝐢𝐷=6.99+6.99=13.98.

We can apply the exact same reasoning to show that △𝐴𝐢𝐷 and △𝐴𝐷𝐡 have the same area. We see that both triangles have the same base length, since 𝐢𝐷=𝐷𝐡, and these bases lie on the same straight line. Finally, they share the vertex point 𝐴, so the perpendicular distance from the base to 𝐴 will be the same for both triangles.

Hence, their areas are the same and so areacm△𝐴𝐡𝐷=13.98.

Since △𝐴𝐡𝐢 is the combination of these triangles, we have areaareaareacm△𝐴𝐡𝐢=△𝐴𝐡𝐷+△𝐴𝐢𝐷=13.98+13.98=27.96.

In our previous example, we showed two useful results. First, we saw that the median of a triangle will split the triangle into two triangles with the same area. Second, we saw that two triangles with congruent bases on the same straight line that share the opposite vertex will have equal areas since their perpendicular heights are equal. We can write these results formally as follows.

Property: Equality of Areas of Triangles with Congruent Bases

Any median of a triangle will split the triangle into two triangles with the same area.

Any two triangles with congruent bases that lie on the same straight line and share a common vertex opposite the base have the same area.

In our next example, we will apply this property to find triangles of equal area to a given triangle.

Example 5: Identifying the Triangles with the Same Area between Parallel Lines

Which triangle has the same area as △𝐿𝐡𝐢?

Answer

We note that we are given that 𝐡𝐢=𝐷𝑋; we can then recall that any two triangles with congruent bases that lie on the same straight line and share a common vertex opposite the base have the same area. Hence, △𝐿𝐡𝐢 and △𝐷𝑋𝐿 have the same area.

Thus far, we have concentrated on finding triangles with equal areas to a given triangle or using these results to determine areas. However, we can also ask the same questions in reverse. For example, if two triangles of equal area share a base and their vertices opposite the base lie on the same side, what can we say about these vertices?

To help us understand the situation, let’s first sketch this information.

We know that △𝐴𝐡𝐢 and △𝐴𝐡𝐷 have the same area; we can find expressions for the area of each triangle by using half the length of the base multiplied by the perpendicular height. Adding the perpendiculars to the diagram gives us the following.

We now have areaarea△𝐴𝐡𝐢=12(𝐴𝐡)(𝐢𝐹),△𝐴𝐡𝐷=12(𝐴𝐡)(𝐷𝐺).

Since the areas of the triangles are equal, we must have that 𝐢𝐹=𝐺𝐷. Next, we note that these lines are perpendicular to ⃖⃗𝐺𝐹 and are of the same length; hence, we must have that 𝐢𝐷𝐺𝐹 is a rectangle and in particular this means that ⃖⃗𝐢𝐷⫽⃖⃗𝐺𝐹. We have proven the following result.

Theorem: Vertices of Equal-Area Triangles Sharing a Base Are Aligned Parallel to Their Common Base

If two triangles share a base and have equal areas and the vertices opposite the base lie on the same side of the base, then these vertices lie on a straight line parallel to the base.

It is worth noting that this result also holds if the triangles have congruent bases on the same line. We can write this formally as follows.

Theorem: Vertices of Equal-Area Triangles with Congruent Bases Are Aligned Parallel to Their Common Base

If two triangles have congruent bases on a straight line and have equal areas and the vertices opposite the base lie on the same side of the base, then these vertices lie on a straight line parallel to the base.

Let’s now see an example of applying this theorem to identify a geometric property from a diagram.

Example 6: Triangles between Parallel Lines Sharing the Same Base

If the areas of △𝐿𝑁𝐴 and β–³π‘Œπ΄πΊ are the same, which of the following must be true?

  1. π‘ŒπΏ=𝑁𝐺
  2. π‘ŒπΊβ«½π‘πΏ
  3. π‘ŒπΊ=𝑁𝐿
  4. 𝐴𝑁=𝐴𝐺
  5. π‘ŒπΏβ«½π‘πΊ

Answer

We start by noting that each of triangles △𝐿𝑁𝐴 and β–³π‘Œπ΄πΊ is composed of two smaller triangles; we can compare the area of these smaller triangles. Let’s start by comparing triangles △𝐴𝐺𝐸 and △𝐴𝐷𝑁; we can do this by adding the perpendicular distance from 𝐴 to ⃖⃗𝐺𝑁 to the diagram as shown.

We recall that any two triangles with congruent bases that lie on the same straight line and share a common vertex opposite the base have the same area. Hence, areaarea△𝐴𝐺𝐸=△𝐴𝐷𝑁.

Combining this result with the fact that triangles △𝐿𝑁𝐴 and β–³π‘Œπ΄πΊ have the same area means that triangles β–³π‘ŒπΊπΈ and △𝐿𝑁𝐷 must also have the same area.

We then recall that if two triangles have congruent bases on a straight line and have equal areas and the vertices opposite the base lie on the same side of the base, then these vertices lie on a straight line parallel to the base.

Hence, π‘ŒπΏβ«½π‘πΊ, which is option E.

In our final example, we will apply these theorems and properties to determine a geometric property from a given diagram.

Example 7: Identifying a Geometric Property given that Two Triangles Have Equal Areas

Points 𝑍, 𝐻, and 𝐷 are collinear. If the areas of △𝑍𝐢𝐻 and △𝐢𝐻𝐷 are the same, which of the following must be true?

  1. 𝐢𝐻=𝐻𝐷
  2. 𝐢𝐻⫽𝐹𝐷
  3. 𝐢𝐻=𝐷𝐢
  4. 𝐢𝐻=𝐹𝐻

Answer

We first note that ⃖⃗𝐻𝐹 is parallel to ⃖⃗𝐢𝑍 and ⃖⃗𝐻𝑍 is parallel to ⃖⃗𝐢𝐹. Thus, 𝐢𝑍𝐻𝐹 is a parallelogram. Hence, its diagonal, 𝐢𝐻, splits the parallelogram into two equal-area triangles, △𝑍𝐢𝐻 and △𝐢𝐻𝐹. It is also worth noting that saying three points are collinear means that they all lie on the same straight line.

Therefore, since areaarea△𝑍𝐢𝐻=△𝐢𝐻𝐷, we can conclude that area△𝐢𝐻𝐷=△𝐢𝐻𝐹.

We can also note that these triangles share the same base, 𝐢𝐻.

We can then recall that if two triangles share a base and have equal areas and the vertices opposite the base lie on the same side of the base, then these vertices lie on a straight line parallel to the base.

Since triangles △𝐢𝐻𝐷 and △𝐢𝐻𝐹 have the same area, share a base 𝐢𝐻, and have vertices on the same side of the base, we can conclude that the base is parallel to the line between the vertices opposite the base. That is 𝐢𝐻⫽𝐹𝐷, which is option B.

In the previous example, there are actually many different ways of determining the result. For example, we could use the fact that if the areas of △𝑍𝐢𝐻 and △𝐢𝐻𝐷 are the same, then their bases lying on the same line are congruent, which leads to 𝐻𝐷=𝑍𝐻=𝐹𝐢, and as 𝐻𝐷⫽𝐹𝐢, so 𝐻𝐷𝐹𝐢 is a parallelogram.

Let’s finish by recapping some of the important points from this explainer.

Key Points

  • If two triangles share a base and the vertices opposite this base lie on a straight line parallel to the base, then they have equal areas.
  • If two triangles lie on two parallel lines and they have the same base length, then they have the same area.
  • The median of a triangle divides it into two parts equal in area.
  • Triangles that have congruent bases on the same straight line and have a common vertex opposite the bases are equal in area.
  • If two triangles share a base and have equal areas and the vertices opposite the base lie on the same side of the base, then these vertices lie on a straight line parallel to the base.

Join Nagwa Classes

Attend live sessions on Nagwa Classes to boost your learning with guidance and advice from an expert teacher!

  • Interactive Sessions
  • Chat & Messaging
  • Realistic Exam Questions

Nagwa uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Learn more about our Privacy Policy