Answer: 30 square inches.
Given:
The wooden cutout of the lightning bolt consists of 2 right angled triangles with the legs being 10 inches and 3 inches.
The area of this lightning bolt will be equal to the sum of the areas of the two right angled triangles.
The area of a triangle of base 'b' and height 'h' is given as:
[tex]A = \frac{1}{2} bh[/tex]
Here [tex]b=3 , h=10[/tex] Plug in solve for area of one of the triangles.
Therefore, area of the right angled triangle is:
[tex]A= \frac{1}{2} *3*10= \frac{30}{2} = 15in^{2}[/tex]
Now, the two right angled triangles are congruent. So, total area is twice the area of one of the triangle.
Therefore, total area of the lightning bolt is: [tex]2 * 15=30in^{2}[/tex]
