Use this interactive to discover the formula for kites and understand why it is what it is!

Use sliders a and b to change the length of the diagonals of the kite.[br]1. What happens to the side lengths when you change the length of the diagonals? [br][br]Use the sliders to rotate triangle ACE. [br]2. What shape does the triangle make with the newly transformed triangle? [br][br]Use the sliders to rotate triangle DCE. [br]3. What do you see now with the two original triangles and the newly transformed triangles? [br]4. Write any thoughts down you have that might help you find the area of the original kite. [br][br]Use the sliders to rotate the remaining triangles, ABE and DBE. [br]5. What shape have you constructed? [br]6. How would you find the area of this figure? (the combined yellow and blue figure you just constructed).[br]7. Write down what you notice about the area of this figure and what you think the area of your original kite is. [br]8. Build a formula to find the area of the original kite. [br][br]9. Write down if you think this will work for any kite! Share your thoughts with a partner. [br]