If two sides of a triangle are 5 and 12, respectively, which of the following could NOT be the area of this triangle? Choices:	A) 1	B) 6	C) 38	D) 29	E) 17
For this question it would be helpful to know the largest area that this triangle could be, given the two sides of 5 and 12.   We know that the area of a triangle will be maximized when two sides are perpendicular to each other (consult Bunuel's drawing above). Thus we have a max area being equal to one half the base times the height, either (.5)12 * 5 -or- (.5)5 * 12 will result in a maximum area of 30 for the triangle; therefore, the triangle could never have an area of 38.   38
<result>C</result>
If two sides of a triangle are 5 and 12, respectively, which of the following could NOT be the area of this triangle?