Chapter 6: Problem 29
Find the area of the triangle whose sides have the given lengths. \(a=9, \quad b=12, \quad c=15\)
Short Answer
Expert verified
The area of the triangle is 54 square units.
Step by step solution
01
Calculate the Semi-Perimeter
The semi-perimeter of a triangle is given by the formula \( s = \frac{a+b+c}{2} \). Substitute the given side lengths to find \( s \).\[ s = \frac{9+12+15}{2} = \frac{36}{2} = 18 \]
02
Apply Heron's Formula
Heron's Formula allows us to find the area of a triangle given its side lengths. The formula is:\[ A = \sqrt{s(s-a)(s-b)(s-c)} \] where \( s \) is the semi-perimeter calculated in Step 1.
03
Substitute the Values into Heron's Formula
Using the values for \( s \), \( a \), \( b \), and \( c \):\[ A = \sqrt{18(18-9)(18-12)(18-15)} \] Simplify inside the square root:\[ A = \sqrt{18 \times 9 \times 6 \times 3} \]
04
Simplify the Expression
Calculate the value inside the square root:\[ A = \sqrt{18 \times 9 \times 6 \times 3} = \sqrt{2916} \]
05
Compute the Final Area
Calculate the square root:\[ A = \sqrt{2916} = 54 \] Therefore, the area of the triangle is 54 square units.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Semi-Perimeter
The semi-perimeter of a triangle is an important concept in triangle geometry. The semi-perimeter is half the perimeter of the triangle. When you have the side lengths of a triangle, you can calculate the semi-perimeter using the formula:
\( s = \frac{36}{2} = 18 \)
This step is essential for using Heron's Formula to find the area.
- \( s = \frac{a+b+c}{2} \)
\( s = \frac{36}{2} = 18 \)
This step is essential for using Heron's Formula to find the area.
Triangle Area Calculation
Calculating the area of a triangle can be tricky if you only have the side lengths. However, Heron's Formula provides a way to do this using the semi-perimeter. Once you have the semi-perimeter, the formula for the area \( A \) of the triangle is:
- \( A = \sqrt{s(s-a)(s-b)(s-c)} \)
- The semi-perimeter \( s \) is found first.
- Subtract each side length from the semi-perimeter.
- Multiply those results together.
- Take the square root at the end.
Geometry Problem-Solving
Solving geometry problems isn’t just about crunching numbers; it’s about understanding the relationships between geometric figures. For triangles, especially, there are useful relationships and formulas. Tackling these problems efficiently means:
Enjoying the problem-solving process is key to mastering geometry!
- Knowing the necessary formulas like Heron's and semi-perimeter calculation.
- Breaking the problem into smaller steps to avoid mistakes.
- Understanding how different elements of the triangle, like sides and angles, relate to each other.
Enjoying the problem-solving process is key to mastering geometry!
Mathematical Formulas
Mathematical formulas serve as tools that allow us to solve problems across various topics, including geometry. Heron’s Formula is a classic example in the realm of triangles, helping us solve for areas without needing height:
- First, calculate the semi-perimeter.
- Apply Heron's Formula to find the area directly.
- Solve complex problems with ease.
- Validate your understanding by arriving at consistent results.
- Develop a toolkit for different mathematical scenarios.