How to Calculate the Area of an Unequal Triangle

In mathematics, triangles are classified into various types based on their sides. An unequal triangle is one in which all three sides have different lengths. Calculating the area of such a triangle is a bit tricky, but not impossible. In this article, we will show you how to calculate the area of an unequal triangle without breaking a sweat.

Getting Started: Understand the Formula

The formula for calculating the area of an unequal triangle is as follows:

A = √s(s-a)(s-b)(s-c)

Where:

A = Area of the triangle
s = Semi-perimeter of the triangle
a, b, and c = The lengths of the sides of the triangle

Calculating the Semi-Perimeter of the Triangle

The first step in calculating the area of an unequal triangle is to calculate the semi-perimeter of the triangle. The semi-perimeter is calculated by adding the lengths of the three sides and dividing the result by two.

For example, if the lengths of the three sides of the triangle are 4, 6, and 8, the semi-perimeter of the triangle is (4 + 6 + 8) / 2 = 9.

Calculating the Area of the Triangle

Once you have calculated the semi-perimeter of the triangle, you can use the formula to calculate the area of the triangle. In the example above, the area of the triangle is

A = √9(9-4)(9-6)(9-8) = √9(5)(3)(1) = 15√3

Therefore, the area of the triangle is 15√3.

Conclusion

As you can see, calculating the area of an unequal triangle is not as difficult as it may seem. All you need to do is understand the formula, calculate the semi-perimeter, and then use the formula to calculate the area of the triangle.