The formula for the area of a triangle is A = 1/2 × base × height. In this formula, "A" represents the area, while "base" refers to the length of one side of the triangle, typically the one at the bottom. "Height" is the perpendicular distance from this base to the opposite vertex. This simple and effective formula allows for calculating the area of any triangle, regardless of its shape, by measuring its base and corresponding height. For more complex triangular shapes, the formula can be adapted by dividing the triangle into smaller, manageable components.