R
S
The length of RT is 9 feet, and the length of SU is 12 feet. Which statement best explains how to find the area of the kite?
1)
A)
Add the areas of triangles SRU and STU.
B)
Multiply the area of triangle STU, which has a base of 12 feet and a height
of 9 feet, by 2
Multiply the area of triangle STU, which has a base of 12 feet and a height
of 4.5 feet by 2
D
Multiply the area of triangle SRU, which has a base of 4.5 feet and a height
of 12 feet by 2

There is nothing about the definition of a kite that requires the short diagonal be bisected by the long diagonal. In that light, the most general statement regarding the area of the kite is ...

A) add areas of SRU and STU

__

If you assume the short diagonal is bisected by the long one, then the description of C is also applicable.

C) Multiply the area of triangle STU, which has a base of 12 feet and a height of 4.5 feet by 2

_____

Additional comment

The area is half the product of the diagonal lengths, so will be 1/2(9 ft)(12 ft) = 54 ft². This is the answer you get using methods A or C. The method of A requires you describe the height of one of the triangles with a variable. (That variable cancels in the final sum.) For example, let the height of triangle SRU be x. Then ...

area SRU +area STU

= (1/2)(SU)(x) +(1/2)(SU)(9 -x) . . . . for SU = 12

= 6(x +(9 -x)) = 6(9) = 54