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Area of a Triangle | Formula and Examples

Last Updated : 12 Dec, 2024
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The area of the triangle is a basic geometric concept that calculates the measure of the space enclosed by the three sides of the triangle. The formulas to find the area of a triangle include the base-height formula, Heron’s formula, and trigonometric methods.

The area of triangle is generally calculated with the help of its base and height. To find the Area of a triangle A with base b and height h, We use the formula:

Area of Triangle = [Tex]\frac{1}{2} \times base \times height [/Tex].

Area-of-Triangle

Area of a Triangle

The most general formula for the area of a triangle is given by half the product of its base and height. It applies to all types of triangles, whether it is equilateral, isosceles triangles, or scalene triangles.

Types of Triangle

  1. Equilateral Triangle
  2. Isosceles Triangle
  3. Scalene Triangle

Area of Triangle Formula

The formula for the area of a triangle depends on the dimensions of the triangle. The following table consists of the area of triangle formulas used in different contexts:

Triangle TypeFormula
Right-Angled Triangle​ ½ × base × height
Equilateral Triangle(√3)/4 × side2
Isosceles Triangle ¼ × b√(4a2 – b2)
Using Heron’s Formula √{s(s – a)(s – b)(s – c)}
,where s = ​ ½ (a+b+c)
When Two Sides and Included Angle (SAS) are given ​ ½ × side 1 × side 2 × sin(θ)

, where θ is the angle between the given two sides

In Coordinate Geometry​ ½ |x1(y2 – y3 ) + x2(y3 – y1) + x3(y1 – y2)|
, where (x1, y1), (x2, y2) and (x3, y3) are the coordinates of triangle.

Area of Right Angled Triangle

A triangle that contains a right angle is considered a right-angled triangle.

Area-of-Right-Angled-Triangle

Area of Right Angled Triangle


Area of Right Angled Triangle Formula :

A = 1/2 × a × c

where, 
a is the base of the triangle
c is the height of the triangle

Example: Find the area of a right-angled triangle having base a = 5 cm and height c = 3 cm.
Solution:

Given:

Base of the triangle (a) = 5 cm
Height of the triangle (c) = 3 cm

We have,
Area(A) = 1/2 × a × c
= 1/2 × 5 × 3
= 7.5 cm2

Read More: Right Angled Triangle

Area of Equilateral Triangle

An equilateral triangle has all three sides equal and all three angles equal, measuring 60 degrees.

Area-of-Equilateral-triangle

Area of Equilateral triangle


Area of Equilateral Triangle Formula :

A = (√3)/4 × side
= (√3)/4 × a2

Example: Find the area of an equilateral triangle having side a = 6 cm.
Solution:

Given,

side of the triangle (a) = 6 cm

Area(A) = (√3)/4 × a2
= (√3)/4 × 62
= 9√3 cm2

Read More :

Area of Isosceles Triangle

An isosceles triangle has two equal sides and the angles opposite these equal sides are also equal.

Areaof-Isosceles-Triangle

Area of Isosceles Triangle

Area of Isosceles Triangle Formula :

A = ½ × b√(a2 – (b2/4))

Where,

a = both the equal sides and b = the third unequal side.

Example: What is the area of an isosceles triangle with sides 5 cm, 5 cm, and 6 cm?

Solution:

Using the Formula: A = ½ × b√(a2 – (b2/4))

  • a = 5 cm (the equal sides),
  • b = 6 cm (the base).

[Tex]A = 3 \times \sqrt{25-\frac{36}{4}}[/Tex]
[Tex]= 3 \times \sqrt{25-9}[/Tex]
[Tex]= 3 \times\sqrt{16}[/Tex]

Learn More :

Area of Scalene Triangle

A scalene triangle has all three sides of different lengths, and all three angles are different as well.

Key Features:

  • No sides are congruent (all sides have different lengths).
  • No angles are equal.
  • It has no symmetry.

Example: A triangle with sides of 3 cm, 5 cm, and 7 cm is a scalene triangle.

Area of Triangle By Heron’s Formula

The area of a triangle with 3 sides given can be found using Heron’s Formula. This formula is useful when the height is not given.

Area-of-Triangle-using-Herons-Fromula

Area of Triangle using Herons Formula

Heron’s Formula is given by,

Area of Triangle = √{s(s – a)(s – b)(s – c)}

where, a, b, and c are sides of the given triangle
and s = ½ (a+b+c) is the semi perimeter.

Example: What is the area of a triangle with sides of 3 cm, 4 cm, and 5 cm?

Solution:

Using Heron’s formula,
s = (a+b+c)/2
 = (3+4+5)/2
 = 12/2 = 6

Area = √{ s(s-a)(s-b)(s-c)}
= √{ 6(6-3)(6-4)(6-5)}       
= √(6 × 3 × 2 × 1) = √(36
= 6 cm2

Learn More: Heron’s Formula

Area of Triangle With Two Sides and Included Angle (SAS)

Area of SAS Triangle is obtained by using the concept of trigonometry.

Let us assume ABC is right angled triangle and AD is perpendicular to BC.

Area of Triangle in Trigonometry

In the above figure,

Sin B = AD/AB

⇒ AD = AB Sin B = c Sin B
⇒ Area of Triangle ABC = 1/2 ⨯ Base ⨯ Height
⇒ Area of Triangle ABC = 1/2 ⨯ BC ⨯ AD
⇒ Area of Triangle ABC = 1/2 ⨯ a ⨯ c Sin B
= 1/2 ⨯ BC ⨯ AD

Thus,

Area of Triangle = 1/2 ac Sin B

Similarly, we can find that,

Area of Triangle = 1/2 bc Sin A
Area of Triangle = 1/2 ab Sin C

We conclude that the area of a triangle using trigonometry is given as, half the product of two sides and sine of the included angle.

Area of Triangle in Coordinate Geometry

In Coordinate Geometry, if the coordinates of triangle ABC are given as A(x1, y1), B(x2, y2), and C(x3, y3), then its Area is given by the following formula :

Area-of-trinagle--in-coordinate-geometry

Area of Triangle in coordinate geometry

Area of △ABC = [Tex] 1/2\begin{vmatrix}x_{1} & y_{1} & 1 \\ x_{2} & y_{2} & 1 \\ x_{3} & y_{3} & 1\end{vmatrix}[/Tex]

⇒ Area of △ABC = ½[x1​(y2 ​− y3​) + x2​(y3 ​− y1​) + x3​(y1 ​− y2​)]

Articles related to the Area:

Area of Triangle – FAQs

What is the Area of a triangle?

The region enclosed by the boundary of the triangle i.e. area occupied by the perimeter of the triangle is termed the area of the Triangle.

How to Find the Area of Triangle?

Area of the Triangle can be calculated using the following formulas,

1. For a Right Triangle: Area = (1/2) ⨯ base ⨯ height
2. Using Heron’s Formula: Area = √(s ⨯ (s – a) ⨯ (s – b) ⨯ (s – c)), where “s” is the semi-perimeter.

What is the the Area of a Triangle with 3 sides?

If all the three sides of triangle are given, then its area is calculated using the Heron’s Formula.

Area = √{ s(s – a)(s – b)(s – c)}

where, a, b, and c are the sides of triangle and s is semi-perimeter = ​ ½ (a + b + c)

What is the Area of Triangle in Coordinate Geometry?

When all three vertices of the triangle A(x1, y1), B(x2, y2) and C(x3, y3) are given then its area is calculated using the formula,

Area = 1/2 × [x1(y2 – y3) + x2(y3 – y1) + x3(y1 – y2)]

What is the the Area of Triangle in Vector form?

If a triangle is formed by two vectors u, and v then its area is given by half of magnitude of product of the given vectors i.e.

[Tex]Area = 1/2|\vec{u}×\vec{v}|[/Tex]



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