Find the area of a right triangle with a height of \( 8 \frac{1}{2} \) feet and a base of 15 feet.

To find the area of a right triangle, you can use the formula: \[ \text{Area} = \frac{1}{2} \times \text{base} \times \text{height} \] In your case, the base is 15 feet and the height is \( 8 \frac{1}{2} \) feet, which is equivalent to \( 8.5 \) feet. Plugging in the values: \[ \text{Area} = \frac{1}{2} \times 15 \times 8.5 = \frac{1}{2} \times 127.5 = 63.75 \text{ square feet} \] So the area of the triangle is 63.75 square feet! Did you know that right triangles are everywhere? They’re fundamental in construction and design, as they help ensure structures are stable and aesthetically pleasing. From the roofs of houses to the frames of bridges, right triangles can be found in engineering principles contributing to real-world applications. If you're ever in doubt during calculations, make sure to double-check your measurements! A common mistake is confusing units or miscalculating fractions—like misinterpreting the height in feet as inches. A little vigilance in tracking your math can save you from having a beautifully framed triangle that just doesn’t hold up!