AREA BY OFFSETS FROM A STRAIGHT LINE

OFFSETS are short distances measured perpendicular to a reference line or baseline. They are
usually taken at regular intervals if the curved boundary does not vary significantly.
Common Two Rules used in determining areas of Irregular or Curved Boundaries
1. TRAPEZOIDAL RULE
The assumption made in using the trapezoidal rule is that the ends of the offsets in the
boundary line are assumed to be connected by straight line, thereby forming a series of
trapezoids.

1 2 3 4 5 6 n-1
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1

1 2 3 4 5 6 1

: = = = = =

1 + 2
1 = ( )
2
2 + 3
2 = ( )
2
3 + 4
3 = ( )
2
.
.
.

Tarlac State University CE 313: Surveying 1 Prepared by:

College of Engineering Topic: Area Computations Engr. Randy G. Policarpio
Civil Engineering Department page: 1
 1 +
1 = ( )
2
= 1 + 2 + 3 + + 1
1 + 2 2 + 3 3 + 4 1 +
=( ) +( ) + ( ) + + ( )
2 2 2 2

= [(1 + 2 ) + (2 + 3 ) + (3 + 4 ) + + (1 + )]
2

= (1 + 22 + 23 + 24 + + 21 + )
2

= ( + + 2 )
2 1

= 2 + 3 + 4 + + 1

:
1 + 2 2 + 3 3 + 4 1 +
=( ) 1 + ( ) 2 + ( ) 3 + + ( ) 1
2 2 2 2

Tarlac State University CE 313: Surveying 1 Prepared by:

College of Engineering Topic: Area Computations Engr. Randy G. Policarpio
Civil Engineering Department page: 2
2. SIMPSONS ONE-THIRD RULE
Simpsons one-third rule is based on the assumption that the curved boundary consists
of a series of parabolic arcs, where each arc is continuous over three adjacent offsets
that are equally spaced. The rule is only applicable when there is an odd number offsets
and equally spaced offsets.

n-2 n-1
1 2 2 3 4 5 6 2 1
1 3 4 5

( )

1 1 2 2 3

Tarlac State University CE 313: Surveying 1 Prepared by:

College of Engineering Topic: Area Computations Engr. Randy G. Policarpio
Civil Engineering Department page: 3
 2
1,2 = +
3
1 + 3 2 1 + 3
1,2 = (2) ( ) + (2) (2 )
2 3 2
4 22 1 3
1,2 = ()(1 + 3 ) + ( )
3 2

1,2 = (31 + 33 + 42 21 23 )
3

1,2 = ( + 42 + 3 )
3 1

3,4 = ( + 44 + 5 )
3 3

1, = ( + 41 + )
3 2

= [(1 + ) + 2 (3 + 5 + 7 + + 2 ) + 4 (2 + 4 + 6 + + 1 )]
3

= [(1 + ) + 2 ( ) + 4 ( )]
3
:
1
( )

( )

( )
Tarlac State University CE 313: Surveying 1 Prepared by:
College of Engineering Topic: Area Computations Engr. Randy G. Policarpio
Civil Engineering Department page: 4