The base of a triangle refers to one of its sides, typically the side on which the triangle is considered to be standing. In most cases, the base is the side that is considered horizontal and it is often used in calculations related to the area of the triangle.
To find the area of a triangle, for example, you use the formula:
Area = 1/2 × base × height
In this formula, the ‘base’ is the length of the side used as the base of the triangle, and the ‘height’ is the perpendicular distance from the base to the opposite vertex. It’s important to note that any side of a triangle can technically serve as a base, depending on the orientation of the triangle you are working with.
Thus, while one side is traditionally referred to as the base, you can choose any side based on the context of your problem or the way the triangle is posed.