Final answer:
It is true that the formula for the area of a triangle can be used to calculate consumer surplus and producer surplus in the market, as they are often represented as triangular areas on a supply and demand graph.
Thus the statement is true.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that you can use the formula for the area of a triangle to calculate consumer surplus and producer surplus in the market is true. Consumer surplus measures the difference between what consumers are willing to pay and what they actually pay. It is represented by the area above the market price and below the demand curve. Producer surplus, on the other hand, measures the difference between what producers are willing to accept and the price they actually receive and is represented by the area below the market price and above the supply curve. Both these surpluses are often represented as triangular areas on a graph where the base is the quantity and the height is the difference in prices.
For example, the consumer surplus triangle with base 'J' and height equivalent to the difference between the willingness to pay (at point J on the demand curve) and the equilibrium price, will represent the surplus that consumers enjoy. Similarly, the producer surplus triangle with base 'K' and height equivalent to the difference between the price producers are willing to accept (at point K on the supply curve) and the equilibrium price, represents the surplus for producers.
When barriers to trade are imposed, resulting in a no-trade scenario, the price often rises to PNoTrade, and the quantity supplied and demanded adjusts. The producer surplus may increase, represented by a larger triangular area, as producers can now sell at a higher price.
Conversely, the consumer surplus may decrease, represented by a smaller triangular area, as consumers are forced to pay a higher price. This change is visualized through the change in the areas of the triangles that represent surplus before and after the trade barrier introductions.
Thus the statement is true.