Difference between revisions of "Heron's Formula"
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where the [[semi-perimeter]] <math>s=\frac{a+b+c}{2}</math>. | where the [[semi-perimeter]] <math>s=\frac{a+b+c}{2}</math>. | ||
+ | == Proof == | ||
+ | Using basic Trigonometry, we have | ||
+ | <cmath>[ABC]=\frac{ab}{2}\sin C, </cmath> | ||
+ | which simplifies to | ||
+ | <cmath>[ABC]=\frac{ab}{2}\sqrt{1-\cos^2 C}.</cmath> | ||
+ | |||
+ | The Law of Cosines states that in triangle <math>ABC</math>, <math>c^2 = a^2 + b^2 - 2ab\cos C</math>, which can be written as <math>\cos C = \frac{a^2 + b^2 - c^2}{2ab}</math>. Thus, | ||
+ | <math>[ABC]=\frac{ab}{2}\sqrt{1-\left(\frac{a^2+b^2-c^2}{2ab}\right)^2}.</math> | ||
+ | |||
+ | Now, we can simplify: | ||
+ | <cmath>[ABC]=\sqrt{\frac{a^2b^2}{4}\left[1-\frac{(a^2+b^2-c^2)^2}{4a^2b^2}\right]}</cmath> | ||
+ | |||
+ | <cmath>=\sqrt{\frac{4a^2b^2-(a^2+b^2-c^2)^2}{16}}</cmath> | ||
− | == | + | <cmath>=\sqrt{\frac{(2ab+a^2+b^2-c^2)(2ab-a^2-b^2+c^2)}{16}}</cmath> |
+ | |||
+ | <cmath>=\sqrt{\frac{((a+b)^2-c^2)(c^2-(a-b)^2)}{16}}</cmath> | ||
− | < | + | <cmath>=\sqrt{\frac{(a+b+c)(a+b-c)(b+c-a)(a+c-b)}{16}}</cmath> |
− | < | + | <cmath>=\sqrt{s(s-a)(s-b)(s-c)}</cmath> |
− | + | ==Isosceles Triangle Simplification== | |
− | <math>=\sqrt{ | + | <math>A=\sqrt{s(s-a)(s-b)(s-c)}</math> for all triangles |
− | <math>= | + | <math>b=c</math> for all isosceles triangles |
− | <math>=\sqrt{ | + | <math>A=\sqrt{s(s-a)(s-b)(s-b)}</math> simplifies to <math>A=(s-b)\sqrt{s(s-a)}</math> |
− | < | + | ==Square root simplification/modification== |
+ | From <cmath>A=\sqrt{s(s-a)(s-b)(s-c)}</cmath> We can "take out" the <math>1/2</math> in each <math>s</math>, then we have <cmath>A=\frac{1}{4}\sqrt{(a+b+c)(-a+b+c)(a-b+c)(a+b-c)}</cmath>Using the [[difference of squares]] on the first two and last two factors, we get <cmath>A=\frac{1}{4}\sqrt{(b^2+2bc+c^2-a^2)(a^2-b^2+2bc-c^2)}</cmath>and using the difference of squares again, we get <cmath>A=\frac{1}{4}\sqrt{(2bc)^2-(-a^2+b^2+c^2)^2}</cmath> From this equation (although seemingly not symmetrical), it is much easier to calculate the area of a certain triangle with side lengths with quantities with square roots. One can remember this formula by noticing that when finding the cosine of an angle in a triangle, the formula is <cmath>\cos{A}=\frac{-a^2+b^2+c^2}{2bc}</cmath> and the two terms in the formula are just the [[denominator]] and [[numerator]] of the fraction for <math>\cos{A}</math>, only they're squared. This can also serve as a reason for why the area <math>A</math> is never imaginary. This is equivalent of ending at step <math>4</math> in the proof and distributing. | ||
− | <math> | + | ===Note=== |
+ | Replacing <math>-a^2+b^2+c^2</math> as <math>2bc\cos{A}</math>, the area simplifies down to <math>\frac{1}{4}\sqrt{(2bc\sin{A})^2}</math>, or <math>\frac{1}{4}\cdot2bc\sin{A}</math>, or <math>\frac{1}{2}bc\sin{A}</math>, another common area formula for the triangle. | ||
− | <math> | + | ==Example== |
+ | Let's say that you have a right triangle with the sides <math>3</math> ,<math>4</math> , and <math>5</math>. Your semi- perimeter would be <math>6</math> since <math>(3+4+5)</math> ÷ <math>2</math> is <math>6</math>. | ||
+ | Then you have <math>6-3=3</math>, <math>6-4=2</math>, <math>6-5=1</math>. | ||
+ | <math>1\cdot 2\cdot 3=6.</math> | ||
+ | <math> 6\cdot 6 = 36</math> | ||
+ | The square root of <math>36</math> is <math>6</math>. The area of your triangle is <math>6</math>. | ||
== See Also == | == See Also == | ||
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== External Links == | == External Links == | ||
* [http://www.scriptspedia.org/Heron%27s_Formula Heron's formula implementations in C++, Java and PHP] | * [http://www.scriptspedia.org/Heron%27s_Formula Heron's formula implementations in C++, Java and PHP] | ||
+ | * [http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/Resources/Papers/Heron.pdf Proof of Heron's Formula Using Complex Numbers] | ||
In general, it is a good advice <b>not</b> to use Heron's formula in computer programs whenever we can avoid it. For example, whenever vertex coordinates are known, vector product is a much better alternative. Main reasons: | In general, it is a good advice <b>not</b> to use Heron's formula in computer programs whenever we can avoid it. For example, whenever vertex coordinates are known, vector product is a much better alternative. Main reasons: | ||
* Computing the square root is much slower than multiplication. | * Computing the square root is much slower than multiplication. |
Latest revision as of 00:05, 22 January 2024
Heron's Formula (sometimes called Hero's formula) is a formula for finding the area of a triangle given only the three side lengths.
Contents
Theorem
For any triangle with side lengths , the area
can be found using the following formula:
where the semi-perimeter .
Proof
Using basic Trigonometry, we have
which simplifies to
The Law of Cosines states that in triangle ,
, which can be written as
. Thus,
Now, we can simplify:
Isosceles Triangle Simplification
for all triangles
for all isosceles triangles
simplifies to
Square root simplification/modification
From We can "take out" the
in each
, then we have
Using the difference of squares on the first two and last two factors, we get
and using the difference of squares again, we get
From this equation (although seemingly not symmetrical), it is much easier to calculate the area of a certain triangle with side lengths with quantities with square roots. One can remember this formula by noticing that when finding the cosine of an angle in a triangle, the formula is
and the two terms in the formula are just the denominator and numerator of the fraction for
, only they're squared. This can also serve as a reason for why the area
is never imaginary. This is equivalent of ending at step
in the proof and distributing.
Note
Replacing as
, the area simplifies down to
, or
, or
, another common area formula for the triangle.
Example
Let's say that you have a right triangle with the sides ,
, and
. Your semi- perimeter would be
since
÷
is
.
Then you have
,
,
.
The square root of
is
. The area of your triangle is
.
See Also
External Links
In general, it is a good advice not to use Heron's formula in computer programs whenever we can avoid it. For example, whenever vertex coordinates are known, vector product is a much better alternative. Main reasons:
- Computing the square root is much slower than multiplication.
- For triangles with area close to zero Heron's formula computed using floating point variables suffers from precision problems.