Step #1
With coordinate geometry questions in which there is no coordinate plane, always make sure to draw the plane and any diagram (with practice, you’ll get quick at making a rudimentary version). Trying to visualize the information is simply much more difficult.



Step #2
Once you’ve drawn all the information, which should include Point A and B, then the next steps should be easier. By the way, point B is located at (4,0). Remember, ABC is symmetric about the y-axis, meaning that exactly half of the triangle is on the left side of the y-axis; the other half is on the right side. The only way to arrange such a triangle is to have AB as a horizontal line, which forms the base of the triangle.

If you don’t believe me try drawing a triangle in which AB is not a horizontal line and the triangle is symmetric about the y-axis.



Step #3
At this point, you may have also noticed that the triangle is an isosceles triangle (equal parts on both sides of the axis). Therefore the top of triangle is located on the y-axis. Whether it is above line AB or below doesn’t matter, as we are only looking for the area of ABC (the height will be constant—the distance point C is from side AB).



Step #4
Because we have an isosceles triangle, BC and AC must both equal 5. Remember the perimeter is 18. AB accounts for 8, leaving 10 for both sides. Splitting the triangle in half (basically each side of the triangle), we have two 3:4:5 right triangles. Therefore the height is 3, and the area of the triangle is 12, Answer (D).



Bonus Step:
This problem could have been even more difficult had I not provided the information that AB is the longest side. In that case, we still would have had the exact same triangle. Point B and Point C could be switched, but that detail is moot because the dimensions of the triangle would have been exactly the same.

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