Area of a triangle

A LEVEL LINKS
Scheme of work: 4a. Trigonometric ratios and graphs
Textbook: Pure Year 1, 9.3 Areas of triangles

Key points
• a is the side opposite angle A.
b is the side opposite angle B.
c is the side opposite angle C.
1
• The area of the triangle is ab sin C .
2

Examples
Example 1 Find the area of the triangle.

1 Always start by labelling the sides

and angles of the triangle.

Area = 1 ab sin C 2 State the formula for the area of a

2 triangle.
1
Area = ´ 8 ´ 5 ´ sin 82° 3 Substitute the values of a, b and C
2 into the formula for the area of a
triangle.
Area = 19.805 361... 4 Use a calculator to find the area.

Area = 19.8 cm2 5 Round your answer to 3 significant

figures and write the units in your
answer.

A2400 ch9g | Version 1.1 | September 2020

 Practice questions
1 Work out the area of each triangle.
Give your answers correct to 3 significant figures.

a b
b
Area =
1Xab
xsin
b)
A
<X 5x8XSin3o 87 (m2 Area
.

xabin
:
=
Ex5 5 x75 /Sin 115
.
.

= 18 7
. cm2

⑪ Area :

1xabxSin (

1x4x38XSin] 2
⑮ 692 9 mm
=
.

A
Ge
2 The area of triangle XYZ is 13.3 cm2.
b
Work out the length of XZ.
- A
S

G
Hint: JA
Rearrange the formula to make a side the subject. -

A= ExaxbxSin
Sin 1xaX8 XSin 64)
3
Area =
1xzy x

The area of triangle ABC is 86.7 cm .

X
2
. im=
73

13 3
.
=
Exax5
-

Xa
.
2

Work out the length of BC. a

133x2 =

Give your answer correct to 3 significant figures. 5 2 .

=
a
5 1 .

A2400 ch9g | Version 1.1 | September 2020