CHAPTER 12

Area of a Triangle
12.1 Area of a Triangle
The area K of any triangle equals one-half the product of its base and altitude. In general, if enough information
about a triangle is known so that it can be solved, then its area can be found.

12.2 Area Formulas

Cases I and II
Given two angles and a side of triangle ABC

The third angle is found using the fact that A 1 B 1 C 5 1808. The area of the triangle equals a side squared
times the product of the sines of the angles including the side divided by twice the sine of the angle opposite
the side; i.e.,

a2 sin B sin C b2 sin A sin C c2 sin A sin B

K5 5 5
2 sin A 2 sin B 2 sin C

For a derivation of these formulas, see Prob. 12.2. (See also Probs. 12.4 and 12.5.)

Case III
Given two sides and the angle opposite one of them in triangle ABC

A second angle is found by using the law of sines and the appropriate formula from Case I. Since there
are sometimes two solutions for the second angle, there will be times when the area of two triangles must
be found.
(See Probs. 12.6 and 12.7.)

Case IV
Given two sides and the included angle of triangle ABC

The area of the triangle is equal to one-half the product of the two sides times the sine of the included
angle; i.e.,

K 5 12 ab sin C 5 12 ac sin B 5 12 bc sin A

For a derivation of these formulas, see Prob. 12.1.

(See also Probs. 12.8 and 12.9.)

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 CHAPTER 12 Area of a Triangle 129

Case V
Given the three sides of triangle ABC

The area of a triangle is equal to the square root of the product of the semiperimeter and the semiperimeter
minus one side times the semiperimeter minus a second side times the semiperimeter minus a third side; i.e.,

K 5 Ïs(s 2 a)(s 2 b)(s 2 c)  where s 5 12(a 1 b 1 c)

[NOTE: The formula is known as Heron’s (or Hero’s) formula. For a derivation of the formula, see Prob. 12.3.]

(See Probs. 12.10 and 12.11.)

Solved Problems

Use the significant digit relations stated in Section 4.7, page 44.
12.1 Derive the formula K 5 12bc sin A. See Fig. 12.1.
Denoting the altitude drawn to side b of the triangle ABC by h, we have, from either figure, h 5 c sin A. Thus,
K 5 12bh 5 12bc sin A.

Fig. 12.1

c2 sin A sin B
12.2 Derive the formula K 5 .
2 sin C
c sin B
From Prob. 12.1, K 5 12bc sin A; and by the law of sines, b 5 .
sin C
1 c sin B c2 sin A sin B
Then K 5 12bc sin A 5 sin A 5 c sin A 5 .
2 sin C 2 sin C

12.3 Derive the formula K 5 Ïs(s 2 a)(s 2 b)(s 2 c), where s 5 12(a 1 b 1 c).
b2 1 c2 2 a2
By the law of cosines, cos A 5 so that
2bc
b2 1 c2 2 a2 2bc 2 b2 2 c2 1 a2 a2 2 (b 2 c)2 (a 2 b 1 c)(a 1 b 2 c)
1 2 cos A 5 1 2 5 5 5
2bc 2bc 2bc 2bc
b2 1 c2 2 a2 2bc 1 b2 1 c2 2 a2 (b 1 c)2 2 a2 (b 1 c 1 a)(b 1 c 2 a)
and   1 1 cos A 5 1 1 5 5 5
2bc 2bc 2bc 2bc
a 1 b 1 c 5 2s, so a 2 b 1 c 5 (a 1 b 1 c) 2 2b 5 2s 2 2b 5 2(s 2 b)
a 1 b 2 c 5 (a 1 b 1 c) 2 2c 5 2s 2 2c 5 2(s 2 c)
and b 1 c 2 a 5 (a 1 b 1 c) 2 2a 5 2s 2 2a 5 2(s 2 a)
(a 2 b 1 c)(a 1 b 2 c) 2(s 2 b) ∙ 2(s 2 c) (s 2 b)(s 2 c)
sin2 12 A 5 12(1 2 cos A) 5 5 5
4bc 4bc bc

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 130 CHAPTER 12 Area of a Triangle

(b 1 c 1 a)(b 1 c 2 a) 2s ∙ 2(s 2 a) s(s 2 a)

and cos2 12 A 5 12(1 1 cos A) 5 5 5
4bc 4bc bc

Since 12 A < 908, sin 12 A 5 Î (s 2 b)(s 2 c)

bc
and cos 12 A 5 Î s(s 2 a)
bc
. Then

K 5 12 bc sin A 5 bc sin 12 A cos 12 A 5 bc Î (s 2 b)(s 2 c)

bc Î s(s 2 a)
bc
5 Ïs(s 2 a)(s 2 b)(s 2 c)

Case I

12.4 Find the area of triangle ABC, given c 5 23 cm, A 5 208, and C 5 158.
B 5 1808 2 (A 1 C) 5 1458
c2 sin A sin B
K5
2 sin C
232 sin 208 sin 1458
5
2 sin 158
5 200 cm2

Case II

12.5 Find the area of triangle ABC, given c 5 23 cm, A 5 208, and B 5 158.
C 5 1808 2 (A 1 B) 5 1458
c2 sin A sin B
K5
2 sin C
232 sin 208 sin 158
5
2 sin 1458
5 41 cm2

Case III

12.6 Find the area of triangle ABC, given a 5 112 m, b 5 219 m, and A 5 208.
b sin A 219 sin 208
sin B 5 a 5 5 0.6688; B 5 428 and B9 5 1388.
112
C 5 1808 2 (A 1 B) 5 1188   C9 5 1808 2 (A 1 B9) 5 228
a2 sin B sin C a2 sin B9 sin C9
K5 K9 5
2 sin A 2 sin A
1122 sin 428 sin 1188 1122 sin 1388 sin 228
5 5
2 sin 208 2 sin 208
5 10,800 m2 5 4600 m2

Case III

12.7 Find the area of triangle ABC, given A 5 418509, a 5 123 ft, and b 5 96.2 ft.
b sin A 96.2 sin 418509
sin B 5 a 5 5 0.5216; B 5 318309.
123
C 5 1808 2 (A 1 B) 5 1068409
b2 sin A sin C
K5
2 sin B
96.22 sin 418509 sin 1068409
5
2 sin 318309
5 5660 ft2

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 CHAPTER 12 Area of a Triangle 131

Case IV

12.8 Find the area of triangle ABC, given b 5 27 yd, c 5 14 yd, and A 5 438.
K 5 12bc sin A
5 12(27)(14) sin 438
5 130 yd2

Case IV

12.9 Find the area of triangle ABC, given a 5 14.27 cm, c 5 17.23 cm, and B 5 868149.
K 5 12ac sin B
5 12(14.27)(17.23) sin 868149
5 122.7 cm2

Case V

12.10 Find the area of triangle ABC, given a 5 5.00 m, b 5 7.00 m, and c 5 10.0 m.
s 5 12(a 1 b 1 c) 5 12(5 1 7 1 10) 5 11 m.

K 5 Ïs(s 2 a)(s 2 b)(s 2 c)

5 Ï11(11 2 5)(11 2 7)(11 2 10)

5 Ï264
5 16.2 m2

Case V

12.11 Find the area of triangle ABC, given a 5 1.017 cm, b 5 2.032 cm, and c 5 2.055 cm.
s 5 12(a 1 b 1 c) 5 12(1.017 1 2.032 1 2.055) 5 2.552 cm

k 5 Ïs(s 2 a)(s 2 b)(s 2 c)

5 Ï2.552(2.552 2 1.017)(2.552 2 2.032)(2.552 2 2.055)

5 Ï1.012392

5 1.006 cm2

12.12 Find the area of an isosceles triangle with a base of 19.2 in and base angles of 23°109 each.
In Fig. 12.2, b 5 19.2 in, A 5 23°109, and C 5 23°109. Then
B 5 180° 2 2(23°109) 5 133°409
b2 sin A sin C
K5
2 sin B
19.22 sin 238109 sin 238109
5
2 sin 1338409
5 39.4 in2

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 132 CHAPTER 12 Area of a Triangle

Fig. 12.2

12.13 A painter needs to find the area of the gable end of a house. What is the area of the gable if it is a triangle
with two sides of 42.0 ft that meet at a 105° angle?
In Fig. 12.3, a 5 42.0 ft, b 5 42.0 ft, and C 5 105°.
K 5 12ab sin C
5 12(42)(42) sin 105°
5 852 ft2

Fig. 12.3

12.14 Three circles with radii 3.0, 5.0, and 9.0 cm are externally tangent. What is the area of the triangle formed
by joining their centers?
In Fig. 12.4, a 5 8 cm, b 5 12 cm, and c 5 14 cm.
s 5 12(a 1 b 1 c) 5 17 cm
K 5 Ïs(s 2 a)(s 2 b)(s 2 c)
5 Ï17(17 2 8)(17 2 12)(17 2 14)
5 Ï2295
5 48 cm2

Fig. 12.4

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 CHAPTER 12 Area of a Triangle 133

12.15 In a quadrangular field ABCD, AB runs N628109E 11.4 m, BC runs N228209W 19.8 m, and CD runs
S408409W 15.3 m. DA runs S328109E but cannot be measured. Find (a) the length of DA and (b) the area
of the field.

Fig. 12.5

In Fig. 12.5, SN is the north-south line through D; the points E, F, and G are the feet of the perpendiculars to this
line through A, B, and C, respectively; and the lines AH and CI are perpendicular to BF.
(a) FB 5 FI 1 IB 5 GC 1 IB
5 15.3 sin 408409 1 19.8 sin 228209
5 9.97 1 7.52 5 17.49
FB 5 FH 1 HB 5 EA 1 HB; hence
EA 5 FB 2 HB
5 17.49 2 11.4 sin 628109 5 17.49 2 10.08 5 7.41
7.41
Since EA 5 DA sin 328109, DA 5 5 13.9 m.
sin 328109

(b) Area ABCD 5 area ACD 1 area ACB

5 12(AD)(DC) sin ∠CDA 1 12(AB)(BC) sin ∠ABC
5 12(13.9)(15.3) sin 1078109 1 12(11.4)(19.8) sin 958309
5 101.6 1 112.3
5 213.9
5 214 m2

12.16 Prove that the area of a quadrilateral is equal to half the product of its diagonals and the sine of the
included angle. See Fig. 12.6(a).
Let the diagonals of the quadrilateral ABCD intersect in O; let u be an angle of intersection of the diagonals; and
let O separate the diagonals into segments of length p and q, r and s, as in the figure.
Area ABCD 5 area AOB 1 area AOD 1 area BOC 1 area DOC
5 12rp sin u 1 12qr sin (1808 2 u) 1 12 ps sin (1808 2 u) 1 12qs sin u
5 12(pr 1 qr 1 ps 1 qs) sin u 5 12(p 1 q)(r 1 s) sin u 5 12(BD)(AC) sin u.

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 134 CHAPTER 12 Area of a Triangle

Fig. 12.6

12.17 Prove that the area K of the smaller segment (shaded) of a circle of radius r and center O cut off by the
chord AB of Fig. 12.6(b) is given by K 5 12r2(u 2 sin u), where u radians is the central angle intercepted
by the chord.
The required area is the difference between the area of sector AOB and triangle AOB.
The area S of the sector AOB is to the area of the circle as the arc AB is to the circumference of the circle; that
S ru
is, 5 and S 5 12r2 u.
pr 2 2pr
The area of triangle AOB 5 12r ∙ r sin u 5 12r2 sin u.

Thus, K 5 12r 2 u 2 12r2 sin u 5 12r2(u 2 sin u)

12.18 Three circles with centers A, B, and C have respective radii 50, 30, and 20 in and are tangent to each other
externally. Find the area of the curvilinear triangle formed by the three circles.
Let the points of tangency of the circles be R, S, and T as in Fig. 12.7. The required area is the difference
between the area of triangle ABC and the sum of the areas of the three sectors ART, BRS, and SCT.
Since the join of the centers of any two circles passes through their point of tangency, a 5 BC 5 50,
b 5 CA 5 70, and c 5 AB 5 80 in. Then
s 5 12(a 1 b 1 c) 5 100   s 2 a 5 50   s 2 b 5 30   s 2 c 5 20
and K 5 area ABC 5 Ïs(s 2 a)(s 2 b)(s 2 c) 5 Ï100 (50) (30) (20) 5 1000Ï3 5 1732

b2 1 c2 2 a2 (70)2 1 (80)2 2 (50)2

cos A 5 5 5 0.7857  A 5 38.28 5 0.667 rad
2bc 2(70)(80)

a2 1 c2 2 b2 (50)2 1 (80)2 2 (70)2

cos B 5 5 5 0.5    B 5 60° 5 1.047 rad
2ac 2(50)(80)
a2 1 b2 2 c2 (50)2 1 (70)2 2 (80)2
cos C 5 5 5 0.1429  C 5 81.8° 5 1.428 rad
2ab 2(50)(70)

Area ART 5 12r2u 5 12(50)2(0.667) 5 833.75, area BRS 5 12(30)2(1.047) 5 471.15, area CST 5 12(20)2(1.428) 5
285.60, and their sum is 1590.50.
The required area is 1732 2 1590.50 5 141.50 or 142 in2.

Fig. 12.7

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 CHAPTER 12 Area of a Triangle 135

12.19 Find the area of the triangle ABC, given A 5 378109, C 5 628309, and b 5 34.9. See Fig. 12.8.

Fig. 12.8

B 5 1808 2 (A 1 C) 5 808209.

b2 sin C sin A
This is a Case II triangle, and K5 .
2 sin B
(34.9)2 sin 628309 sin 378109
K5
2 sin 808209
K 5 331.05
K 5 331 square units

12.20 Find the area of the triangle ABC, given b 5 28.6, c 5 44.3, and B 5 23.38.
This is a Case III triangle in which there may be two solutions. See Fig. 12.9.
c sin B
sin C 5
b
44.3 sin 23.38
sin C 5
28.6
sin C 5 0.6127

C 5 37.88 C9 5 1808 2 37.88 5 142.28

B 1 C9 5 23.38 1 142.28 5 165.58 < 1808
Therefore, C9 is a solution.
A 5 1808 2 (B 1 C) 5 118.98 A9 5 1808 2 (B 1 C9) 5 14.58
c2 sin A sin B c2 sin A9 sin B
Area of nABC is K 5 Area of nA9BC9 is K9 5
2 sin C 2 sin C9
(44.3)2 sin 118.98 sin 23.38 (44.3)2 sin 14.58 sin 23.38
K5 K9 5
2 sin 37.88 2 sin 142.28
K 5 554.39 K9 5 158.55
K 5 554 square units K9 5 159 square units

Two triangles are determined, their areas being 554 and 159 square units, respectively.

Fig. 12.9

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 136 CHAPTER 12 Area of a Triangle

12.21 Find the area of the triangle ABC, given a 5 16.4, b 5 55.7, and C 5 27.38.
This is a Case IV triangle, and K 5 12ab sin C. See Fig. 12.10.
K 5 12(16.4)(55.7) sin 27.38
K 5 209.48
K 5 209

The area is 209 square units.

Fig. 12.10

12.22 Find the area of the triangle ABC, given a 5 255, b 5 290, and c 5 419. See Fig. 12.11.
This is a Case V triangle, and K 5 Ïs(s 2 a)(s 2 b)(s 2 c).
s 5 12(a 1 b 1 c) K 5 Ïs(s 2 a)(s 2 b)(s 2 c)
a 5 255 s 2 a 5 227 K 5 Ï(482)(227)(192)(63)
b 5 290 s 2 b 5 192 K 5 36,379.551
c 5 419 s 2 c 5 63 K 5 36,400
2s 5 964 s 5 482
s 5 482

The area is 36,400 square units.

Fig. 12.11

Supplementary Problems

Find the area of the triangle ABC, given:

12.23 b 5 13 ft, a 5 27 ft, C 5 858 Ans. 175 ft2

12.24 a 5 23.3 cm, c 5 21.5 cm, B 5 121.08 Ans. 215 cm2

12.25 a 5 4.1 m, b 5 5.2 m, c 5 6.7 m Ans. 11 m2

12.26 A 5 658, B 5 358, c 5 12 yd Ans. 38 yd2

12.27 b 5 23.84, c 5 35.26, A 5 508329 Ans. 324.5 square units

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 CHAPTER 12 Area of a Triangle 137

12.28 a 5 456.3, b 5 586.8, C 5 288179 Ans. 63,440 square units

12.29 a 5 512.3, B 5 528159, C 5 638469 Ans. 103,600 square units

12.30 b 5 444.8, A 5 1108169, B 5 308109 Ans. 117,600 square units

12.31 a 5 384.2, b 5 492.8, c 5 677.8 Ans. 93,080 square units

12.32 a 5 28.16, b 5 60.15, c 5 51.17 Ans. 718.6 square units

12.33 To find the area of a triangular lot, the owner starts at one corner and walks due east 215 m to a second corner. After
turning through an angle of 78.48, the owner walks 314 m to the third corner. What is the area of the lot?
Ans. 33,100 m2

12.34 An artist wishes to make a sign in the shape of an isosceles triangle with a 428 vertex angle and a base of 18 m. What
is the area of the sign?
Ans. 211 m2

12.35 Point C has a bearing of N288E from point A and a bearing of N128W from point B. What is the area of triangle ABC
if B is due east of A and 23 km from A?
Ans. 355 km2

12.36 Three circles have radii of 7.72, 4.84, and 11.4 cm. If they are externally tangent, what is the area of the triangle
formed by joining their centers?
Ans. 101 cm2

12.37 A woman hikes 503 m, turns and jogs 415 m, turns again, and runs 365 m returning to her starting point. What is the
area of the triangle formed by her path?
Ans. 74,600 m2

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