What is the area of a triangle with a base of 8 cm and a height of 5 cm?

To determine 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 of the triangle is 8 cm, and the height is 5 cm. Plugging these values into the formula gives:

[ \text{Area} = \frac{1}{2} \times 8 , \text{cm} \times 5 , \text{cm} ]

Calculating this, first multiply the base by the height:

[ 8 \times 5 = 40 , \text{cm}^2 ]

Next, take half of that result:

[ \frac{1}{2} \times 40 , \text{cm}^2 = 20 , \text{cm}^2 ]

Thus, the area of the triangle is 20 cm². This matches the first choice, confirming it as the correct answer. The other options do not reflect the correct calculation based on the area formula, illustrating that the process of applying the formula accurately is crucial for finding the right result