Objective: Find the area of any triangle given at least three pieces of information. Process: Derive several formulas to allow use of given information (to avoid rounding errors). By: Anthony E. Davis Summer 2003
Objective: Find the area of any triangle given at
least three pieces of information.
Process: Derive several formulas to allow use
of given information (to avoid rounding errors).
By: Anthony E. Davis
Summer 2003
Where to start?
c b
a
B Ca
b
Ca
Not Quite Sure? - Try Some Practice Problems.
If you have two sides
and the included angle
then click here.
If you have two angles
and the included side
then click here.
If you have all three
sides then click here.
b
Ca
Two sides and the Included angle
See derivation.
Look at formula.
Try an example.
Return to choices.
B Ca
Two angles and the included side
See derivation.
Look at formula.
Try an example.
Return to choices.
c b
a
All three sides
Look at formula.
Try an example.
Return to choices.
Not Quite Sure?
•Draw a triangle.
•Label the information given.
•Match this triangle with one of the
three shown. Remember all triangles
and all variables are arbitrarily drawn
so rotation may be necessary.
•Return to choices
Derivation
•We know Area=1/2(base)(height).
•Let a represent the base.
•Using right triangle trigonometry, sin C = h/b
•Solve for h, h = b sin C.
•Replace values in area formula: Area = 1/2 a (bsin C)
•Hence the Area given two sides and the included angle
is any of the following:Area = 1/2 ab sin C
Area = 1/2 bc sin A
Area = 1/2 ac sin B
A
c b
B C
a
h
Formula
for
Two Sides and the Included
Angle
Area 1
2absinC
Example
Find the area of ∆DEF, if d = 3 cm, e = 8 cm
and F = 35°. Round to the nearest hundredth.
Area 1
2desinF
Area 1
2(3)(8)sin35
Area 6.88cm2
Derivation
•We know Area = 1/2 (base)(height)
•Let a represent the base
•Find the third angle by subtracting the two known
from 180.
•From right triangle trigonometry, sin C = h/b
•Solve for h, h = b sin C
•Replacing values, Area = 1/2 a (bsin C).
A
c b
B C
a
h
Derivation (cont.)
•However we are only given one side, so we need to
substitute the ‘a’ or ‘b’ out. (Let say the ‘b’).
•From the Law of Sines, sin A/a = sin B/b. We know
A, B and ‘a’ so we will solve for ‘b’.
•Solve for ‘b’, b = (a sin B)/(sin A)
•Replace, Area = 1/2 a ((a sin B)/(sin A)) sin C
•Thus we have the following
A
c b
B C
a
h
Area 1
2
a2 sinBsinC
sinA
Formula
for
Two Angles and the Included
Side
Area 1
2
a2 sinBsinC
sinA
Example
Find the area of ∆CAB if b = 7 ft., C = 42º, and B = 28º. Round your answer to the nearest tenth.
Angle A = 180- B - C
A 180 28
42
A 110 Area
1
2
b2sinAsinC
sinB
Area 1
2
(7)2 sin110sin 42
sin 28
Area 32.8 ft2
Formula
for
All Three Sides
(Heron’s Formula)
( )( )( )
a+b+c where S (semiperimeter) =
2
Area S S a S b S c
Example
Find the area of an equilateral triangle having legs of
length 3.2 mm. Round your answer to two decimal
places.
S a b c
2, in this case a = b = c = 3.2
S =3.2 + 3.2 + 3.2
2
S 4.8mm Area (4.8)(4.8 3.2)(4.8 3.2)(4.8 3.2)
Area 19.6608
Area 4.43mm2
Practice Problems
Directions: Find the area of each triangle using the given
information. Round only your final answer to the nearest
tenth. You may click on the question to see the solution.
1. ABC, a = 3, b = 2, C = 24
2. CBH, h = 3, C = 49, H = 24
3. DKP, d = 6, k =14, p = 24
4. HYM , h = 4, M = 18, H = 61
5. DGH, d = 7, g = 9, h = 4
6. CFV, c = 31, F = 27, v = 26
Answer
Answer
Answer
Answer
Answer
Answer
Answer #1:
ABC, a = 3, b = 2, C = 24
Area 1
2absinC
Area 1
2(3)(2)sin 24
Area 1.2units 2
Return to problems.
Answer #2
CBH, h = 3, C= 49, H = 24
B 180 49 24
B 107Area
1
2
h2sinCsinB
sinH
Area 1
2
(3)2 sin 49sin107
sin 24
Area 8.0units 2
Return to problems.
Answer #3
DKP, d = 6, k = 14, p = 24
S d k p
2
S 6 14 24
2
S 22units
Area S(S d)(S k)(S p)
Area 22(22 6)(22 14)(22 24)
Area 5632
Cannot take square root of negative number.
These three sides (6, 14, 24) do not form a triangle.
Remember the two smaller sides must add to more
than the third side.
Return to problems.
Answer #4
HYM, h = 4, M =18, H = 61
Y 180 18 61
Y 101
Area 1
2
h2sinMsinY
sinH
Area 1
2
(4)2 sin18sin101
sin61
Area 2.8units 2
Return to problems.
Answer #5
DGH, d = 7, g = 9, h = 4
S d g h
2
S 7 9 4
2
S 10units Area S(S d)(S g)(S h)
Area 10(10 7)(10 9)(10 4)
Area 180
Area 13.4units 2
Return to problems.
Answer #6
CFV, c = 31, F = 27, v= 26
Area 1
2cv sinF
Area 1
2(31)(26)sin27
Area 183.0units 2
Return to problems.