Chapter 12

Heron's formula
Exercise 12.1

Question: 1 A traffic signal board, indicating ‘SCHOOL AHEAD’, is an

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equilateral triangle with side ‘a’. Find the area of the signal board, using
Heron’s formula. If its perimeter is 180 cm, what will be the area of the

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signal board?

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Solution:

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Given
Perimeter of Signal board = 180 cm
Length of the side of the equilateral triangle = a
The perimeter of the signal board = perimeter of the triangle
(Perimeter of Equilateral Triangle = 3 × Side)
3 a = 180 cm
a = 60 cm
Therefore, each side of triangle = 60 cm.
Semi perimeter of the signal board (s) = Perimeter of board /2 = 180/2 =
90 cm

Using Heron’s formula,

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Area of the signal board = √𝑠(𝑠 − 𝑎)(𝑠 − 𝑏)(𝑠 − 𝑐)

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where, s = semi perimeter of signal board = 90 cm a = b = c = 60 cm
A
Putting the value we

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Area of signal board = √90 (90 − 60)(90 − 60)(90 − 60)
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ED PR

Area of signal board = √90 × 30 × 30 × 30

Area of signal board = 100 × 9√3
C

Area of signal board = 900√3 𝑐𝑚2

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Method 2:
we know that,
√3 2
Area of an equilateral triangle = 𝑎
4

where a = side of the equilateral triangle. putting the value of a = 60 cm

we get,
√3
Area = (60)2
4

√3
Area = × 3600
4

Area = 900√3 𝑐𝑚2

Question: 2 The triangular side walls of a flyover have been used for
advertisements. The sides of the walls are 122 m, 22 m and 120 m (see
Fig. 12.9). The advertisements yield on earning of Rs 5000 per m2 per
year. A company hired one of its walls for 3 months. How much rent did
it pay?

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Fig. 12.9

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Solution: As shown in the figure the sides of the triangular side walls of

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flyover are 122 m, 22 m, and 120 m.
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T
Perimeter of the triangle = 122 + 22 + 120 = 264 m
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264
Semi perimeter of triangle(s) =
2
C

= 132m
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Now,
Using Heron’s formula
Area of the advertisement = √𝑠(𝑠 − 𝑎)(𝑠 − 𝑏)(𝑠 − 𝑐)
where, s = semi perimeter of triangle and a, b, and c are the sides of the
triangle.
= √132 ( 132 − 122)(132 − 22)(132 − 120)
= √132 × 10 × 110 × 12
= √132 × 132 × 10 × 10
= 132 × 10𝑚2
=1320𝑚2
Rent of advertising per year = Rs. 5000 per m2
Rent of one wall for 1 year = 1320 x 5000
1320×5000×3
Rent of one wall for 3 months =
12

Rent of one wall for 3 months = Rs. 1650000

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Question: 3 There is a slide in a park. One of its side walls has been

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painted in some color with a message “KEEP THE PARK GREEN AND
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CLEAN” (see Fig. 12.10). If the sides of the wall are 15 m, 11 m and 6

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m, find the area painted in color.

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Solution:
Given: The sides of the triangle are 15 m, 11 m and 6 m.
To find: Area painted in color
Explanation:
Perimeter of the triangular walls = sum of 3 sides
Perimeter = 15 + 11 + 6 = 32 m
32
Semi perimeter of triangular walls(s) =
2

= 16 m
Using Heron’s formula,
Area of the advertisement = Area of triangle =√𝑠(𝑠 − 𝑎)(𝑠 − 𝑏)(𝑠 − 𝑐)
where, s = semi perimeter of the triangle a, b and c are the sides of the
triangle Therefore for the given triangle,
Area = √16(16 − 15)(16 − 11)(16 − 6)
= √16 × 1 × 5 × 10

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= √16 × 5 × 10

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= √800 𝑚2
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= √(20 × 20 × 2) (Taking 20 outside the square root, as a pair is present

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in square root, we get,)
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=20√2 𝑚2
Thus the area of painted color is 20√2 𝑚2
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Question: 4 Find the area of a triangle two sides of which are 18cm and
10cm and the perimeter is 42cm.
Solution:
To find: Area of the triangle
Given:
Two sides of the triangle are 18 cm and 10 cm (Given)
Perimeter of the triangle = 42 cm
Perimeter of Triangle = Sum of sides of triangle
Let the third side of triangle be x, So
x + 18 + 10 = 42
Third side of triangle, x = 42 – (18 + 10)
= 14 cm
42
Semi perimeter of triangle(s) =
2

= 21 cm
Using Heron’s formula,

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Area of the triangle = √𝑠(𝑠 − 𝑎)(𝑠 − 𝑏)(𝑠 − 𝑐)

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= √21(21 − 18)(21 − 10)(21 − 14)

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= √21 × 3 × 11 × 7

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= √7 × 3 × 7 × 3 × 11
T
ED PR

=21√11 𝑐𝑚2
C

Question: 5 Sides of a triangle are in the ratio of 12: 17: 25 and its
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perimeter is 540 cm. Find its area.

Solution: Let the common ratio of the sides of the triangle be x and sides
are 12x, 17x and 25x
The perimeter of the triangle = 540 cm
Sum of sides of the triangle = 540 cm

12x + 17x + 25x = 540 cm

54 x = 540
x = 10
Sides of triangle:
12 x = 12×10 = 120 cm
17 x = 17×10 = 170 cm
25 x = 25×10 = 250 cm
540
Semi perimeter of triangle(s) =
2

=270cm

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Now,

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Using Heron’s formula,
NO A D
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A
Area of the triangle = √𝑠(𝑠 − 𝑎)(𝑠 − 𝑏)(𝑠 − 𝑐)

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where, s = semi-perimeter of the triangle and a, b and c are the sides of
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the triangle
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= √270(270 − 120)(270 − 170)(270 − 250)

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= √270 × 150 × 100 × 20

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= √(81000000) cm2
= 9000 cm2
Area of triangle = 9000 cm2

Question:.6 An isosceles triangle has perimeter 30 cm and each of the

equal sides is 12 cm. Find the area of the triangle.
Solution: Length of equal sides of the triangle = 12cm
Perimeter of the triangle = 30 cm
Third side of triangle = 30 – (12 + 12)
= 6cm
 30
Semi perimeter of triangle(s) =
2

= 15cm
Now,
Using Heron’s formula,
Area of the triangle = √𝑠(𝑠 − 𝑎)(𝑠 − 𝑏)(𝑠 − 𝑐)
where, s = semi perimeter of the triangle

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a, b and c are the sides of the triangle

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= √15(15 − 12)(15 − 12)(15 − 6)

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= √15 × 3 × 3 × 9

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= 9√15 𝑐𝑚2
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ED PR

Hence, the area of triangle is 9√𝟏𝟓 𝒄𝒎𝟐

C
©
 Exercise 12.2

Question: 1 A park, in the shape of a quadrilateral ABCD, has ∠ C = 90°,

AB = 9 m, BC = 12 m, CD = 5 m and AD = 8 m. How much area does it
occupy?
Solution: The figure is given below:

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NO A D
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A

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The dimensions of the park as follows:

Angle C = 90°,
C

AB = 9m,
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BC = 12m,
CD = 5m
And, AD = 8m
Now, BD is joined.
Thus quadrilateral ABCD can now be divided into two triangles ABD and
BCD
Area of quadrilateral ABCD = Area of triangle ABD + Area of triangle
BCD
Pythagoras Theorem: It states that the square of the hypotenuse (the side
opposite the right angle) is equal to the sum of the squares of the other
two sides.
In ΔBCD by Pythagoras theorem,
BD2 = BC2 + CD2
BD2 = 122 + 52
BD2 = 169

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BD = 13m

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As triangle BCD is right angled triangle,

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1
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Area of ∆𝐵𝐶𝐷 = × 𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑒 × ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡
2
T
1
ED PR

Area of ∆𝐵𝐶𝐷 = × 12 × 5 =30𝑚2

2
(8 + 9 + 13)
Now, Semi perimeter of triangle (ABD) =
C

2
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30
= = 15m
2

Using Heron’s formula,

ar (ABD) = √𝑠(𝑠 − 𝑎)(𝑠 − 𝑏)(𝑠 − 𝑐)
where, s = semi-perimeter of the triangle and a, b, and c are the sides of
the triangle.
= √15(15 − 13)(15 − 8)(15 − 9)
= √15 × 2 × 7 × 6
= √6 × 6 × 5 × 7
=6√35𝑚2
 5.91
̅̅̅̅ 00
5 35 ̅̅̅̅
25
109 10 00
9 81
1181 1900
1181

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= 6 × 5.91= 35.46 m2
A

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Area of quadrilateral ABCD = 35.46 + 30
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Area of quadrilateral ABCD = 65.46 m2

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Thus, the park acquires an area of 65.5 m2(approx).

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Question: 2 Find the area of a quadrilateral ABCD in which AB = 3 cm,

BC = 4 cm, CD = 4 cm, DA = 5 cm and AC = 5 cm.
Solution:
Given: AB = 3 cm, BC = 4 cm, CD = 4 cm, DA =5 cm and AC = 5 cm
To find: Area of quadrilateral ABCD.
Now we can divide the quadrilateral into two separate triangles and then
calculate their area. Now, in Δ ABC,
Using Pythagoras theorem,
AC2 = BC2 + AB2
5 2 = 32 + 42

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25= 16 + 9

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25 = 25 NO A D
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A
Thus,

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Triangle ∆𝐴𝐵𝐶 is right angled triangle and since AB and BC are smaller
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sides so they work as legs.
ED PR

And we know that,

1
C

Area of right angles triangle = × 𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑒 × ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡

2
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1
ar(ABC) = × 3 × 4 = 6 𝑐𝑚2
2

Now,
Perimeter of = 5 + 5 + 4
5+5+4
Semi perimeter of Δ ACD =
2
14
=
2

= 7 cm
Using Heron’s formula,
Area of Δ ACD = √𝑠(𝑠 − 𝑎)(𝑠 − 𝑏)(𝑠 − 𝑐)
where, s = semi perimeter of the triangle and a, b, and c are the sides of
the triangle
= √7(7 − 5)(7 − 5)(7 − 4)
= √2 × 2 × 7 × 3
= 2√21 cm2
Take = √21 = 4.58

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= 9.16 cm2 (approx)

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Area of quadrilateral ABCD = Area of ∆𝐴𝐵𝐶 + Area of Δ ACD
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= 6 + 9.16
A
= 15.16 cm2

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By rounding off = 15.2 cm2 (approx)

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Question: 3 Radha made a picture of an aero plane with colored paper as

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shown in Fig 12.15. Find the total area of the paper used.
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Solution:
The figure of the questions is:
Now to find area:

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Sides of triangular section I = 5cm, 1cm and 5cm

Perimeter of the triangular section I = 5 + 5 + 1 = 11cm
𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝐼 11
Semi perimeter, s = = = 5.5cm
2 2

We use Heron’s formula to find the area of the section I,

Area of Section I = √𝑠(𝑠 − 𝑎)(𝑠 − 𝑏)(𝑠 − 𝑐)

= √5.5(5.5 − 5)(5.5 − 5)(5.5 − 1)

= √5.5 × 0.5 × 0.5 × 4.5
= √6.1875 𝑐𝑚2
Area of Section I = 2.48 cm2 (approx.) ~ 2.5 cm2

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Length of the sides of the rectangle of section II = 6.5 cm and 1 cm
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Area of section II = 6.5×1 = 6.5cm2

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Section III is an isosceles trapezium which is divided into two right

triangles and one rectangle.
Now, Area of trapezium
= Area (i) + Area (ii) + Area (iii)
= 1/2 × 0.5 × 1 + 1 × 1 + 1/2 × 0.5 × 1= 1.5 cm2

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Section IV and V are congruent right-angled triangles with height 1.5cm

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and base 6cm.
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now area of triangle,

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1 1
= × base× height = = × 1.5 × 6
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2 2

= 4.5 𝑐𝑚2
Area of region IV and V = 2 × 4.5 𝑐𝑚2 = 9𝑐𝑚2
Thus, total area is 2.5 + 6.5 + 9 + 1.5 = 19.5 sq cm

Question: 4 A triangle and a parallelogram have the same base and the
same area. If the sides of the triangle are 26 cm, 28 cm and 30 cm, and the
parallelogram stands on the base 28 cm, find the height of the
parallelogram.
Solution:
Given,
Area of the parallelogram and triangle are equal

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Sides of triangle are 26 cm, 28 cm and 30 cm.
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26+28+30
A
Semi perimeter of triangle ,s =
2

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84
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S=
2
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= 42 cm
Using Heron’s formula,
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Area of triangle = √𝑠(𝑠 − 𝑎)(𝑠 − 𝑏)(𝑠 − 𝑐)

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= √42(42 − 26)(42 − 28)(42 − 30)

= √42 × 16 × 14 × 12
= 336𝑐𝑚2
= Let the height of parallelogram be h,
As parallelogram and triangle having same base and same height have
equal areas.
∴ Area of parallelogram = Area of triangle
28 × h = 336
 336
h=
28

h =12 cm
Hence, the height of the parallelogram is 12 cm.

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Question: 5 A rhombus shaped field has green grass for 18 cows to graze.
If each side of the rhombus is 30 m and its longer diagonal is 48 m, how

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much area of grass field will each cow be getting?

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Solution:

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Diagonals divide the rhombus ABCD into two congruent triangles of
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equal area.
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30+30+48
Semi perimeter of ∆𝐴𝐵𝐶 = = 54m
2

Using Heron’s formula,

Area of ∆𝐴𝐵𝐶 = √𝑠(𝑠 − 𝑎)(𝑠 − 𝑏)(𝑠 − 𝑐)

√54(54 − 30)(54 − 30)(54 − 48)

= √54 × 24 × 24 × 6
= 432𝑚2
Area of field = 2 x area of field ∆𝐴𝐵𝐶
= 2 × 432
= 864 m2
Thus,
864
Area of grass field which each cow will be getting = = 48𝑚2
18

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Question:6 An umbrella is made by stitching 10 triangular pieces of cloth
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of two different colors (see Fig. 12.16), each piece measuring 20 cm, 50
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cm and 50 cm. How much cloth of each color is required for the umbrella?

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Solution: To Find: Total Amount of cloth required

Given: Umbrella is made up of 10 triangular pieces of sides 50, 50 and 20
cm
Perimeter of each triangular piece of cloth = 50 + 50 + 20
50 + 50 + 20
Semi perimeter of each triangular piece of cloth =
2
120
=
2

= 60 cm
Using Heron’s formula,
Area of one triangular piece = √𝑠(𝑠 − 𝑎)(𝑠 − 𝑏)(𝑠 − 𝑐)
where, as is the semi-perimeter of the triangle and a, b and c are the sides
of the triangle.
= √60(60 − 50)(60 − 50)(60 − 20)
= √60 × 10 × 10 × 40
= 200 √6𝑐𝑚2

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Area of piece of cloth of one colour = 5 x 200 √6

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= 1000√6𝑐𝑚2
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A

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Question:7 A kite in the shape of a square with a diagonal 32 cm and an
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isosceles triangle of base 8 cm and sides 6 cm each is to be made of three

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different shades as shown in Fig. 12.17. How much paper of each shade
has been used in it?
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Solution:
For I and II section:
For calculating the area of the square, Let the length of side = x cm
Each Interior Angle of square = 90º Pythagoras Theorem: Square of
Hypotenuse equals to the sum of squares of other two sides

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Now by Pythagoras theorem, x2 + x2 = 32 x 32

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2 x 2 = 32 x 3 2

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x2 = 16 x 32 = 512 cm2

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Area of Square = (side)2
DO U A
T
And this will be the area of Square.
ED PR

Area of square = 512 cm2

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1
Area of section I = Area of section II = Area of square
2
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Now, we need half of this area,

So half of the area of square = 256 cm2

For the III section

Length of the sides of triangle = 6cm, 6cm and 8cm
Perimeter of triangle = 6 + 6 + 8 = 20 cm
Semi-Perimeter of Triangle, s = 10 cm
Using Heron’s formula,
Area of the III triangular piece = √𝑠(𝑠 − 𝑎)(𝑠 − 𝑏)(𝑠 − 𝑐)
where, s = semi-perimeter and a, b, and c are the sides of the triangle
Area of Triangle = √10(10 − 6)(10 − 6)(10 − 8)
= √4 × 10 × 2 × 4
Area of Triangle = 8√5 𝑐𝑚2
= 17.92 𝑐𝑚2

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Question:8 A floral design on a floor is made up of 16 tiles which are

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triangular, the sides of the triangle being 9 cm, 28 cm and 35 cm (see Fig.
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12.18). Find the cost of polishing the tiles at the rate of 50p per cm2

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Solution:

So, we need to find the area of all 16 tiles or we can say that Area of 16
triangles.
Perimeter of each triangular shaped tiles = 28 + 9 + 35
 28+9+35
Semi perimeter of each triangular shaped tiles, s =
2
72
S=
2

s = 36 cm
Now,
Using Heron’s formula,

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Area of each triangular shape= √𝑠(𝑠 − 𝑎)(𝑠 − 𝑏)(𝑠 − 𝑐)

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where s = semi perimeter of triangle and a, b, c are the sides of the triangle

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Area of 1 triangular shape = √36 (36 − 28)(36 − 9)(36 − 35)

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=√36 × 8 × 1 × 27
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ED PR

Area of 1 tile = 36 √6 𝑐𝑚2

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Total area of 16 tiles = 16 × 36√6 cm2 = 576√6 cm2

Total Area of 16 tiles = 576 × 2.45 cm2 [√6= 2.45]
Total Area of 16 tiles = 1411.2 cm2
Rate of polishing tiles = 50 p per cm2
Hence,
The total cost of polishing tiles = 50 × 1411.2
1
= 70560 paise As 1 paisa = Rs= RS. 705.60
100
Question:9 A field is in the shape of a trapezium whose parallel sides are
25 m and 10 m. The non-parallel sides are 14 m and 13 m. Find the area
of the field.
Solution:
Let ABCD be the given trapezium whose
parallel sides are:
AB = 25m and CD = 10m

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And,

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Non-parallel sides are AD = 13m and BC = 14m

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A

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DO U A
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C
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Now,
CM perpendicular to AB and CE ‖ AD
In ∆𝐵𝐶𝐸
BC = 14m, CE = AD = 13m and
BE = AB – AE
= 25- 10
= 15m
15+13+!4
Semi perimeter of ∆𝐵𝐶𝐸 =
2
42
=
2
= 21cm
Now,
Using Heron’s formula,
Area of ∆𝐵𝐶𝐸 = √𝑠(𝑠 − 𝑎)(𝑠 − 𝑏)(𝑠 − 𝑐)
where, s = semi perimeter, a, b and c are the sides of the triangle.
= √21(21 − 15)(21 − 13)(21 − 14)

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= √21 × 8 × 6 × 7

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= 84𝑚2
NO A D
CO N
A
Now from Δ CEB, Area of triangle = 1/2 x base x height

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For CEB, CM will be the height and 15 cm will be base of the triangle.
DO U A
T
And we calculated the area from above. So,
ED PR

1
×15 ×CM = 84
2
C

56
CM = m
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Area of parallelogram AECD = Base ×Altitude

= AE ×CM
56
= 10 ×
5

= 112 m2
Area of trapezium ABCD = Area of AECD + Area of triangle BCE
= (112 + 84) m2
= 196 m2