Chapter Ten

AREA OF A TRIANGLE

10.1: Area of a Triangle, given Two Sides and an Included Angle

The area of a triangle is usually given by the formula A = ^ bh, where b is the
base and h the height. At times, situations arise which make it difficult to apply
this formula directly, as in the following examples.

Example I
Find the area of triangle ABC in which AB = 12 cm, BC = 16 cm and Z ABC = 30°.

30°
ib.
16 cm

Fig. 10.1

Solution
From A, drop a perpendicular to meet BC at N . A N is the height of triangle
ABC.

In triangle ABN, sin 30° = ^g-

_ AH
~ 12
Therefore, the height of A ABC = 12 sin 30°
= 12x1
= 6 cm
Area of triangle ABC = ixBCxAN

= 1x16x6
= 48 cm 2
156 SECONDARY MATHEMATICS

Generally, if the lengths of the two sides and an included angle of a triangle are
given (see figure 10.2), then the area A of the triangle is given by;
A = yabsin0.

Fig. 10.2

Example 2
Figure 10.3 shows a triangle ABC in which AB = 6 cm, BC = 7 cm andZABC = 50°.
Find the area of the triangle.

Fig. 10.3

Solution
Using the formula A = yabsinO, a = 6 cm, b = 7 cm and 9 = 50°.

Therefore, area = i x 6 x 7 sin 50°

= 3x7x0.7660
= 16.09 cm 2
 AREA OF A TRIANGLE 157

10.2: Area of Triangle, given the Three Sides

Example 3
Find the area of a triangle ABC in which AB = 5 cm, BC = 6 cm and AC = 7 cm.
A

6 cm

Fig. 10.4

When only the three sides of a triangle are given, either use scale drawing and
• construct a perpendicular height to one of the sides, or use the formula:

A= V ( s s _ a )( s - b)(s - ) (Hero's formula),

c

where s = 1 of the perimeter of the triangle

= l ( a + b + c)

a, b and c are the lengths of the sides of the triangle.

In the figure, a = 6, b = 7 and c = 5. Therefore;
s = 1(6 + 7 + 5)
= 9

and A = ^9(9 - 6)(9 - 7 ) ( 9 - 5)

= V9 x 3 x 2 x 4
= V216

= 14.70 cm 2
 f

158 SECONDARY MATHEMATICS

Exercise 10.1

21 cm

Fig. 10.5

2. Find the area of each of the following figures:

(a) (b)

-« 13 cm
Fig. 10.6
4 AREA OF A TRIANGLE 159

3. A triangle has sides 10 cm, 7 cm and 9cm. Find:

(a) its area.
(b) the sizes of its angles.
4/ The area of triangle ABC in figure 10.7 is 28.1 cm . Find:
2

(a) the length of the perpendicular from A to BC.

(b) the length of BC.

Fig. 10.7

5. In a triangle X Y Z , X Y = 7 cm, Y Z = 24 cm and X Z = 25 cm. Find the

length of the perpendicular from vertex Y to side X Z .
6. The perimeter of a triangle is 22 cm. I f one of the sides is 9 cm, find the
other sides i f the area of the triangle is 20.976 cm .
2

7. A traditional stool has a triangular top which measures 27 cm. 35 cm and

42 cm. Calculate the area of the top.
8. A triangular flower garden measures 10 m, 15 m and 24 m. Find the area
of the garden.