Calculate the area of triangle ABC with altitude CD, given A (-3,-4) B (-6,2) C (0,0) D (-4,-2)

14 square units

15 square units

18 square units

20 square units

If we use the distance formula then the procedure will look like this:

Altitude CD: sqrt ((-4^2) + (-2^2)) = sqrt (20)

Assuming AB as base, find its length: sqrt ((-3 - (-6)) ^2 + (-4-2) ^2) = sqrt (45)

Easy: 1/2 * base * height

= 1/2 * sqrt (15) * sqrt (20)

=30/2

=14.99 so it will be 15 units square