PLANE GEOMETRY HERONS FORMULA

Dealing with plane figures = ( )( )( )

NOTE: Almost all the formulas involve triangles (trigonometry) and circles. Where S is the Semi-Perimeter
To solve plane geometry problems, memorize or familiarize the properties of triangles and circles. 1
= ( + + )
2
TRIANGLES
Two-dimensional 3-sided figure
Area of an equilateral/equiangular triangle
Since this kind of triangle has similar side and similar angle it has a derived formla.
PARTS OF THE TRIANGLE
SIDES 2 3
=
Sides are labeled with small letters. 4
C
(sides a, b & c)
The sum of the two sides should be greater Area of a part of a triangle
than the third side. The area of small part of the B
b a
+ > , + > , + > triangle is proportional with the
X
SHORTCUT: Another way of saying this is length of the two sides.
A
the length of the third side should be c B = ( )( )
greater than the difference of the other two
sides and less than the sum of the other two sides. A
NOTE: It is not equal but between the values. NOTE: Scissors Formula can also Y C
| | < < + be used.
ANGLES & VERTICES 1
= ()() sin
Angles and Vertices are labeled with capital letters 2
(Angles A, B & C)
Sum of the three interior angles is always 180 Other Lines on a Triangle
ALTITUDE (HEIGHT)
TYPES OF TRIANGLES It is the PERPENDICULAR DISTANCE of a vertex to its opposite side.
ACCORDING TO SIDES It can also be referred as the SHORTEST DISTANCE since the shortest
EQUILATERAL all sides are congruent distance of a point from a line is the perpendicular distance.
ISOSCELES two sides are congruent It can also be referred as the DISTANCE because when talking about
SCALENE no sides are congruent the distance of a point from a line it should be perpendicular.
Two of the heights of an obtuse triangle is outside the triangle, which can
ACCORDING TO ANGLES be drawn by extending the base of the triangle.
ACUTE all angle interior angle are acute The intersection of the three altitudes is the ORTHOCENTER.
RIGHT one interior angle is right Useful formulas in solving problems involving altitudes:
OBTUSE one interior angle is obtuse SINE LAW (applicable for solving lengths)
EQUIANGULAR all angles are congruent COSINE LAW (applicable for solving lengths & angles)
PYTHAGOREAN THEOREM (since altitudes form right
SIDES and ANGLES angles/triangles)
The largest side is opposite the largest angle BASE-HEIGHT FORMULA (since height is already in the formula)
The smallest side is opposite the smallest angle The altitude of a right triangle from the hypotenuse can be solved by
If two or more sides are equal then their opposite angles are also equal similar triangles.
(isosceles, equilateral, equiangular)
= = A D
The side opposite the right angle of a right triangle is the hypotenuse

SIMILAR TRIANGLES It can also be solved by Area

1 1
If two angles of two triangles are the same. ()() = ()() C B
If an angle of a right triangle is the complementary of an angle of 2 2
()()
another right triangle. =
NOTE: Identifying similar triangles help identifying the sides of another
triangle since their sides are proportional.
The orthocenter of the right triangle is at vertex C.
e.g. if triangle ABC is similar with triangle XYZ then = = .

MEDIAN
CONGRUENT TRIANGLES It is line drawn from the VERTEX to the MIDPOINT of the opposite
If three parts (referring to side or angles) of the triangle are congruent side.
and at least one of these part is a side (SSS, SSA, SAS, SAA, ASA). The intersection of the three medians is the CENTROID.
NOTE: Identify congruent triangles can help in solving some cases with The distance of the centroid:
multiple unknowns. from vertex is 2/3 of the length of median
from base is 1/3 of the length of altitude
FORMULAS FOR SIDES and ANGLES Useful formulas in solving problems involving medians:
SINE LAW SINE LAW (applicable for solving lengths)
COSINE LAW (applicable for solving lengths & angles)
= =
sin sin sin BASE-HEIGHT FORMULA (for solving the height)
NOTE: When solving angles using sine law always consider the supplement MEDIAN FORMULA
of that angle since sin = sin(180 ) 4 2 = 22 + 2 2 2

COSINE LAW 2
1
= 2(2 + 2 ) 2
For side: 2
2 = 2 + 2 2 sin ANGLE BISECTOR
CALTECH: MODE [2] COMPLEX It is line drawn from vertex to the opposite side BISECTING the
= | | VERTEX ANGLE.
For angle: The intersection of the three medians is the INCENTER.
2 + 2 2 Incenter is the CENTER of the INSCRIBED CIRCLE.
= cos 1 ( ) The distance of the incenter from a BASE is the RADIUS of the
2
inscribed circle, which means the distance of incenter from any base will
PYTHAGOREAN THEOREM be the same.
For right triangles only Radius of Inscribed Circle:
2 = 2 + 2
c is the hypotenuse
=

CALTECH: Where S is the Semi-Perimeter
= (, ) 1
= ( + + )
2
AREA Useful formulas in solving problems involving angle bsectors:
BASE-HEIGHT SINE LAW (applicable for solving lengths)
1 COSINE LAW (applicable for solving lengths & angles)
=
2 ANGLE BISECTOR FORMULA
NOTE: Height is the perpendicular distance or the shortest distance of the 2( )
vertex from the base. =
+
SCISSORS FORMULA Where S is the Semi-Perimeter
1 1
= sin = ( + + )
2 2
NOTE: C is the included angle. When using this formula remember that
sin = sin(180 ).
PERPENDICULAR BISECTOR Area of Rhombus
It is PERPENDICULAR line drawn from the MIDPOINT of a base. Aside from the general and parallelogram formulas
The intersection of the three medians is the CIRCUMCENTER. Since included angle of the diagonal is right and sin 90 = 1
Circumcenter is the CENTER of the CIRCUMSCRIBED CIRCLE. 1
= 1 2
The distance of the circumcenter from a VERTEX is the RADIUS of the 2
circumscribed circle, which means the distance of circumcenter from any Perimeter of Rhombus
= 4;
vertex will be the same.
Rectangle
Radius of Circumscribed Circle: Squares are also Rectangles

= Two opposite sides are parallel and congruent and form right angles.
4 Diagonals bisect each other.
Useful formulas in solving problems involving perpendicular bisectors: Area of Rectangle
SINE LAW (applicable for solving lengths) Aside from the general and parallelogram formulas
COSINE LAW (applicable for solving lengths & angles) Since the base of the rectangle is known as the length (l) and the altitude
PYTHAGOREAN THEOREM (since perpendicular bisectors form right to be the width (w)
angles/triangles) =
Perimeter of Rectangle
= 2( + ) = 2 + 2
TIPS: Square
When solving problems involving triangles: Squares are also Parallelograms, Rhombi and Rectangles
Identify all possible angles and sides by trigonometry Square is the regular quadrilateral

Basic Trigonometric functions for right triangle (sin, cos, tan) All sides are parallel and congruent and form right angles.
Pythagorean theorem for lengths of right triangles Diagonals bisect each other and form right angles.
Sine Law and Cosine Law for oblique triangles Area of Square
Aside from the general and parallelogram formulas
By identifying the congruent angles, identify possible similar
Since the length and width is the same
triangles. = 2 ;
By identifying both congruent sides and angles, identify possible
Perimeter of Square
congruent triangles. Same as the rhombus
Mark the congruent sides, lengths or angles to identify possible = 4;
isosceles or equilateral triangles Diagonal of Square
Draw some other lines in the triangle which have known property Since all side are equal
like altitudes and medians. = 2;
As much as possible draw perpendicular lines because it much Trapezium
easier to solve using right angles/triangles or draw parallel lines No opposite side is parallel (General Quadrilateral)
because similar angles can be formed. Area of Trapezium
Aside from perpendicular and parallel lines, congruent lines can Apply the formulas of general quadrilateral
also be drawn that can form isosceles or equilateral triangles.
Dont limit in drawing inside the triangle lines. Line can be Trapezoid
extended or projected to horizontal or vertical lines outside the One opposite side is parallel
triangle to form right triangles. Isosceles Trapezoid
After drawing some other lines, some length or angles can be Non-Parallel side are congruent
identify. If not, mark the congruent length or angles to identify Area of Trapezoid
Aside from the general formulas
similar triangles.
Given the length the parallel side (b1 and b2) and the distance between
Algebraic equations can be made from congruent lengths or
these two side (h)
angles. 1
Integration can also be applied in solving areas. = (1 + 2 )
2
CYCLIC QUADRILATERAL
Quadrilaterals inscribed in a circle
QUADRILATERALS Sum of opposite angles is 180.
Two-dimensional 4-sided figure
Area of Cyclic Quadrilateral
Based on the general formula
SIDES and ANGLES Since the sum of the opposite angles is 180, is 90 and cos 90= 0
Sides and angles of a quadrilateral can be determined by applying the
= ( )( )( )( )
formulas of triangles since a quadrilateral is made up of 2 triangles by
Where S is the Semi-Perimeter
drawing a diagonal. 1
The sum of all the interior angles is 360. = ( + + + )
2
DIAGONAL Ptolemys Theorem
A line drawn from one vertex to another non-adjacent vertex. For any cyclic quadrilateral, the sum of the product of opposite side is equal
A quadrilateral has 2 diagonals. to the product of the diagonals.
+ = 1 2
AREA
General Quadrilateral
Given 4 sides and two opposite angles TIPS:
= ( )( )( )( ) cos 2 When solving problems involving quadrilaterals:
Where S is the Semi-Perimeter Form triangles and apply the formulas and properties of triangles.
1 Identify all possible angles and sides by trigonometry
= ( + + + )
2 Basic Trigonometric functions for right triangle (sin, cos, tan)
And is half the sum of two opposite angles Pythagorean Theorem for lengths of right triangles
+ + Sine Law and Cosine Law for oblique triangles
=
2 2 Apply the properties of the special quadrilaterals if it is being
considered like parallel side, congruent sides, bisected diagonals,
Given 2 diagonals and their included angle and right angles.
1 Like the triangles, line can still be drawn inside and outside the
= 1 2 sin
2 quadrilaterals to form triangles or special quadrilaterals.
Algebraic equations can be made from congruent lengths or
SPECIAL QUADRILATERALS angles.
Parallelogram Integration can also be applied in solving areas.
Rhombi, Rectangles and Squares are also Parallelograms
Two opposite sides are parallel and congruent.
Diagonals bisect each other
Area of Parallelogram
Aside from the general formula
Given 2 sides and an included angle
= sin
NOTE: This is twice the scissors formula because a parallelogram is made
up of 2 congruent triangles.

Given length of the base (b) or one side and height (h) or the distance from
the bases.
=
Rhombus
Squares are also Rhombi
All sides are parallel and congruent.
Diagonals bisect and form right angles.
CIRCLES
Set of points which is equidistant to a point called center

PARTS OF THE CIRCLE

RADIUS
Line from the center to any point on the periphery of the circle
CHORD TANGENT
Line connecting two points on the periphery of the circle
DIAMETER SECANT
Chord passing through the center
Longest chord and twice the length of radius
CHORD
ARC
Set of points on the circle connecting two on the circle
DIAMETER
MINOR ARC
Smaller arc formed by the two points on the circle
MAJOR ARC
Larger arc formed by the two points on the circle
TANGENT
Line passing through the circle at exactly one point
SECANT
Line passing through the circle at exactly two points
CENTRAL ANGLE
Angle formed by the two radius of the circle

PROPERTIES AND THEOREMS

NOTE: These are the points to be considered when dealing with circle. All of these should be
memorized.
RADIUS
It will be always the same for any point of a circle
NOTE: Always remember this property, because radius can always be
drawn for convenience of solving. It is usually connected to marked points
on the circle to form triangles, right angles or right triangles.

CHORD

CIRUMFERENCE OF THE CIRCLE

ARC LENGTH
AREA OF THE CIRCLE
SECTOR
SEGMENT