# Area Of A Triangle

Most of us are already acquainted with the term area. It is defined as the region occupied inside the boundary of a flat object or figure. The measurement is done in square units with the standard unit being square meters (m2). For the computation of area, there are pre-defined formulas for squares, rectangles, circle, triangles, etc. In this article, we would discuss the area of a triangle. For this, we would use the formula for the area of triangle on different types of triangles and see if we are able to obtain their area.

## Formula for Area of Triangle

Area of Triangle is given by the formula mentioned below: Area of Triangle = $A=\frac{1}{2} (bh)$

### Right-angled Triangle-

When we consider a right-angled triangle, its area could be computed directly. Two of its sides that we consider is the base and the height. So, the formula for area is calculated as:

Area of a triangle = $\frac{1}{2} \times Base \times Height$

Example- Find the area of a right-angled triangle having two sides equal to 3cm and 4 cm.

Solution-

For determining the area of a right-angled triangle, it is not essentially required to know which side is base and which one is height. We can easily determine the are if we know the length of both the sides. Considering any of the one to be base and other to be height, we have

Area of Triangle = $A=\frac{1}{2} (bh)$

Area = $\frac{1}{2} \times 4 \times 3 = 6 cm^{2}$

Example- Find the area of an acute triangle with a base of 15 inches and a height of 4 inches.

Solution-

We know, $A=\frac{1}{2}.b.h$$A=\frac{1}{2}.(15in).(4in)$$A=\frac{1}{2} .(60\;in^{2})$ A = 30 $in^{2}$

### Equilateral Triangle-

For an equilateral triangle, the height of the triangle is to be found before computing its area. For doing so, we drop a perpendicular from one of its vertices (we know that height of an equilateral triangle is the same as the perpendicular bisector of one of its sides). In the ∆ABC, CD represents the height.

Given- Side of an equilateral triangle to be 8 cm. For calculating CD, we consider the right-angled ∆ACD. We have,

$AC^{2}=AD^{2}+CD^{2}$

Or, $AD^{2}= AC^{2} – CD^{2}$ $AD^{2}$ = 64 – 16 = 48

AD = $\sqrt{48}$ = $4\sqrt{3}$ cm

Thus, area of ∆ABC = $Area = \frac{1}{2} \times base \times height$ = $\frac{1}{2} \times 8 \times 4\sqrt{3} cm^{2}$

Area = $= 16 \sqrt{3} \; cm^{2}$

### Isosceles Triangle-

Similar to the equilateral triangle, we find the height of the triangle first to compute its area. Note that the height of the ABC could be obtained by drawing the perpendicular line AD from A which bisects the base AC at right angles. Now, in the right-angled ∆ABD, we find AD by,

$AD^{2}=AB^{2}-BD^{2}$

An isoceles triangle has two equal sides. Consider sides AB = AC to be 5 cm and BC to be 6 cm.

$AD^{2} = 25 – 9 = 16$ AD = $\sqrt{16}$ = 4 cm

Thus, area of ∆ABC = $\frac{1}{2} \times Base \times Height$$= \frac{1}{2} \times 6 \times 4 = 24 cm^{2}$

We have seen that the area of special triangles could be obtained using the formula. However, for a triangle with the sides being given usually, calculation of height would not be simple. For the same reason, we rely on the Heron’s Formula.

### Practice Questions from Triangle Areas:

Example 1- Find the area of the acute triangle with a base of 13 inches and a height of 5 inches.

Solution:

$A=\frac{1}{2}.b.h$ $A=\frac{1}{2}.(13\;in).(5\;in)$ $A=\frac{1}{2}.(65\;in^{2})$

A = $32.5 in^{2}$

Example 2- Find the area of the right angled triangle with a base of 7cm and a height of 8cm.

Solution:

$A=\frac{1}{2}.b.h$ $A=\frac{1}{2}.(7\;cm).(8\;cm)$ $A=\frac{1}{2}.(56\;cm)$

A = $28 cm^{2}$

Example 3- Find the area of obtuse angled triangle with a base of 4cm and a height 7cm.

Solution:

$A=\frac{1}{2}.b.h$ $A=\frac{1}{2}.(4\;cm).(7\;cm)$ $A=\frac{1}{2}.(28\;cm)$

A = $14 cm^{2}$

Example 4- The area of triangular shaped field is 24 square feet and its height is 6 feet. Find the base.

Solution:

$A=\frac{1}{2}.b.h$ $24\;ft^{2}=\frac{1}{2} \cdot b\cdot 6\;ft$

On multiplying both sides of the equation by 2, we get:

$48\;ft^{2}=b\cdot 6\;ft$

Dividing both sides of the equation by 6 ft, we get:

4 ft = b

Commuting this equation, we get: b = 4 ft

Therefore, Base = 4 feet

### More Triangles Related Articles

To learn more about the computation of the area of the triangle using Heron’s Formula, keep visiting BYJU’S

#### Practise This Question

Kushagra is drawing a railway track on paper as a part of his project. He asked Sarosh to draw a line parallel to the given line. Sarosh said that we can only construct a line parallel to the given line using alternate angles concept. Is this true?