Education Technology


VIC: Triangle Areas

by Texas Instruments

Objectives

The purpose of this activity is for students to combine some straight forward geometry (similar triangles) to establish a formula for the area of a special triangle so they can use calculus to determine the minimum area. 

Vocabulary

  • Similar triangles
  • Derivative (rational function)
  • Minimum

About the Lesson

Students use a dynamic representation of a geometry problem, collect (generate) data and then use their equation to model the data. Once the equation is confirmed, students use differential calculus to determine the minimum area.