WEEK 5 LESSON NOTE FOR JSS3 MATHEMATICS

TOPIC: PLANE FIGURES

OBJECTIVES: By the end of the lesson, students will be able to

Problems in mensuration involving:
i. Area of triangles
ii. Area of parallelograms
iii. Area of trapezium
iv. Area of circles and sectors
v. Word problems involving area.

Area of Plane Shapes

Area of a plane shape is the size of a surface. This is measured by finding the number of square
units needed to cover the surface.

Triangle:

The area of a triangle is defined as the total region that is enclosed by the three sides of any particular triangle.
Basically, it is equal to half of the base times height, i.e. A = 1/2 × b × h.

Hence, to find the area of a tri-sided polygon, we have to know the base (b) and height (h) of it. It is applicable to
all types of triangles, whether it is scalene, isosceles or equilateral. To be noted, the base and height of the
triangle are perpendicular to each other. The unit of area is measured in square units (m 2, cm2).

Example: What is the area of a triangle with base b = 3 cm and height h = 4 cm?
Using the formula,
Area of a Triangle, A = 1/2 × b × h
= 1/2 × 4 (cm) × 3 (cm)
= 2 (cm) × 3 (cm)

= 6 cm2
Apart from the above formula, we have Heron’s formula to calculate the triangle’s area when we know the length
of its three sides. Also, trigonometric functions are used to find the area when we know two sides and the angle
formed between them in a triangle. We will calculate the area for all the conditions given here.

Area of a Triangle Formula

The area of the triangle is given by the formula mentioned below:

Area of a Triangle = A = ½ (b × h) square units

Where b and h are the base and height of the triangle, respectively.
Now, let’s see how to calculate the area of a triangle using the given formula. The area formulas for all the
different types of triangles, like an area of an equilateral triangle, right-angled triangle, an isosceles triangle along
with how to find the area of a triangle with 3 sides using Heron’s formula with examples are given below.

Area of a Right Angled Triangle

A right-angled triangle, also called a right triangle has any one angle equal to 90°. Therefore, the height of the
triangle will be the length of the perpendicular side.

Area of a Right Triangle = A = ½ × Base × Height (Perpendicular distance)

From the above figure,

Area of triangle ACB = 1/2 × a × b

Area of an Equilateral Triangle

An equilateral triangle is a triangle where all the sides are equal. The perpendicular drawn from the vertex of the
triangle to the base divides the base into two equal parts. To calculate the area of the equilateral triangle, we
have to know the measurement of its sides.

 Area of an Equilateral Triangle = A = (√3)/4 × side2

Area of Triangle with Three Sides (Heron’s Formula)

The area of a triangle with 3 sides of different measures can be calculated using Heron’s formula. Heron’s
formula includes two important steps. The first step is to find the semi perimeter of a triangle by adding all three
sides of a triangle and dividing it by 2. The next step is to apply the semi-perimeter of triangle value in the main
formula called “Heron’s Formula” to find the area of a triangle.

Where, s is semi-perimeter of the triangle = s = (a+b+c) / 2

We have seen that the area of special triangles could be obtained using the triangle formula. However, for a
triangle with the sides being given, the calculation of height would not be simple. For the same reason, we rely on
Heron’s Formula to calculate the area of the triangles with unequal lengths.
Area of a Triangle Solved Examples
Example 1:Find the area of an acute triangle with a base of 13 inches and a height of 5 inches.
Solution:

A = (½)× b × h sq.units
⇒ A = (½) × (13 in) × (5 in)

⇒ A = (½) × (65 in2)

⇒ A = 32.5 in2
Example 2:

Find the area of a right-angled triangle with a base of 7 cm and a height of 8 cm.
Solution:

A = (½) × b × h sq.units
⇒ A = (½) × (7 cm) × (8 cm)

⇒ A = (½) × (56 cm2)

⇒ A = 28 cm2
Example 3:

Find the area of an obtuse-angled triangle with a base of 4 cm and a height 7 cm.
Solution:

A = (½) × b × h sq.units
⇒ A = (½) × (4 cm) × (7 cm)

⇒ A = (½) × (28 cm2)

⇒ A = 14 cm2
Area of Parallelogram

The area of a parallelogram can be calculated by finding the product of its base with the altitude. The base and
altitude of a parallelogram are always perpendicular to each other. The formula to calculate the area of a
parallelogram is given as Area of parallelogram = base × height square units.

What Is the Area of Parallelogram?

The area of a parallelogram refers to the total number of unit squares that can fit into it and it is measured in square units
(like cm2, m2, in2, etc). It is the region enclosed or encompassed by a parallelogram in two-dimensional space. Let us recall
the definition of a parallelogram. A parallelogram is a four-sided, 2-dimensional figure with:

 two equal, opposite sides,

 two intersecting and non-equal diagonals, and
 opposite angles that are equal

We come across many geometric shapes other than rectangles and squares in our daily lives. Since few properties of
a rectangle and the parallelogram are somewhat similar, the area of the rectangle is similar to the area of a parallelogram.

Area of a Parallelogram Formula

The area of a parallelogram can be calculated by multiplying its base with the altitude. The base and altitude of a
parallelogram are perpendicular to each other as shown in the following figure. The formula to calculate the area of a
parallelogram can thus be given as,

Area of parallelogram = b × h square units

where,

 b is the length of the base

 h is the height or altitude

Parallelogram Area Using Height

Suppose 'a' and 'b' are the set of parallel sides of a parallelogram and 'h' is the height (which is the perpendicular distance
between 'a' and 'b'), then the area of a parallelogram is given by:

Area = Base × Height

A = b × h [square units]

Example: If the base of a parallelogram is equal to 5 cm and the height is 4 cm, then find its area.

Solution: Given, length of base = 5 cm and height = 4 cm

As per the formula, Area = 5 × 4 = 20 cm2

Area of Parallelogram Examples

 Example 1: The adjacent sides of a parallelogram are 10 in and 6 in. The altitude corresponding to side 10 in is 5 in.
Using the area of parallelogram formula, find the area and the length of the altitude corresponding to its adjacent side.

Solution:

Let ABCD be a parallelogram where DE⊥AB, AF⊥BC

Using the area of parallelogram formula,

Area of Parallelogram ABCD = (10) × (5) = 50 in2

Length of BC = 6 in
Length of Altitude AF = (50 ÷ 6) = 8.3 in

Answer: Area of the given parallelogram = 50 in2; Altitude = 8.3 in

 Example 2: Calculate the area of a solar sheet that is in the shape of a parallelogram, given that, the base measures 20
in, and the altitude measures 8 in.

Solution:

Using the area of parallelogram formula,

Area of the solar cell sheet = B × H = (20) × (8) = 160 in 2

Answer: Area of solar cell sheet = 160 in2

 Example 3: The area of a playground which is in the shape of a parallelogram is 2500 in 2, with one side measuring 250
in. Find the corresponding altitude using the area of the parallelogram formula.

Solution:

Area of the playground = 2500 in2

Side of a playground = 250 in
Corresponding altitude = 2500/250 = 10 in

Answer: Corresponding altitude of the playground measures 10 in.