What are the formulas for calculating the area and perimeter of a triangle?

What are the formulas for calculating the area and perimeter of a triangle?

To calculate the area of a triangle, you can use the formula: Area = 1/2 * base * height. For the perimeter, add the lengths of all three sides: Perimeter = side1 + side2 + side3.

Can you give me an example using these formulas?

Sure! If you have a triangle with a base of 5 units and a height of 4 units, the area would be 1/2 * 5 * 4 = 10 square units. If the sides are 5, 6, and 7 units, the perimeter would be 5 + 6 + 7 = 18 units.

What if I only know the lengths of the sides?

If you only know the lengths of the sides, you can use Heron's formula to find the area. First, calculate the semi-perimeter: s = (side1 + side2 + side3) / 2. Then, the area is: Area = √(s * (s - side1) * (s - side2) * (s - side3)).

Can you explain Heron's formula in more detail?

Of course! Heron's formula allows you to calculate the area of a triangle when you know the lengths of all three sides. First, find the semi-perimeter, then plug the values into the formula to get the area.