2-Dimensional Geometry Somerset Math Club 2016-2017

Area Formulas

2
1. Circles: A=𝜋𝑟

a. Circular Sectors: A=𝜋𝑟

2. Triangles: 𝑟 = 𝑟ℎ/2
2
*𝜃/360(in degrees)
r
3. Rectangles/Parallelograms/Squares: A=b*h

a. Trapezoids: A=(𝑟 1 +𝑟 2) ∗ ℎ/2

Challenge: Can you think of a way to explain why this is the area formula for a

trapezoid?

Hint: Try rearranging parts of the trapezoid.

Challenge Question

ABCD is a trapezoid with AB parallel to DC. E and G and midpoints of AD and BC,

respectively. If the area of trapezoid ABCD is 100, what is the area of the quadrilateral,

F A F B
G

H
E G
?

Cir

cles

D H C
The
2-Dimensional Geometry Somerset Math Club 2016-2017

re are 360 degrees in a full circle. However, radians can also be used instead of degrees. There

are 2𝜋 radians in 360 degrees because there are 2𝜋 radiuses in a circumference.

A radian is the central angle that is formed by a sector of the circumference of length r.

Convert the following angles from degrees to radians in terms of

𝜋:

1. 60°

2. 90°

3. 180°

4. 360°

Convert the following angles from radians to degrees:

1. 𝜋/3

2. 𝜋/2

3. 𝜋

4. 2𝑟

5. 360

Why do we use radians?

First, a degree is an arbitrary definition: we define 360 degrees to be the number degrees

in a full circle, but any number could have been defined as the number of degrees in a circle. The

radian is a measurement defined in terms of a property of a circle, making it less arbitrary. It is

also a dimensionless unit, so it can be squared or square rooted without issues with units.

Second, using radians give a much more easily used formula for the area of a sector of a

circle or the length of an arc on a circle. The formula for the length of an arc with a central angle
2-Dimensional Geometry Somerset Math Club 2016-2017

𝜃in degrees, which can be proven using conversion from radians to degrees, is r𝜃 while the area

2
of a circular sector with that central angle is r ∗ 𝑟/2.

Overlapping/Tangent Circles

If the radius of both circle A and circle C is 6 cm, what is the

area that the two circles have in common (the green area)?

If the radius of circle A is 6 cm and the radius of circle C is 3

cm, what is the area that the two circles have in

common?

If the radius of the smallest circle is 1 cm, the radius

of the 2nd smallest circle is 2 cm, and the radius of

the largest circle is 3 cm, what is the area of the

triangle formed by connecting the centers of the

circles?

Right Triangles

The area of a right triangle is ab/2. This is based on the area of a

2 2 2 c
rectangle. By the Pythagorean Theorem, a +b =c a
2 2 2
In an acute triangle, a +b >c while in an obtuse triangle,

2 2 2
a +b <c b
The following are the trigonometric functions in a right
2-Dimensional Geometry Somerset Math Club 2016-2017

triangle.
𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟 𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟
sin𝜃 = sin is the abbreviation for sine.
ℎ𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟

𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟 𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟
cos𝜃= cos is the abbreviation for cosine.
ℎ𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟

𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟 𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟
tan𝜃=𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟 𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟 tan is the abbreviation for tangent.

Using trigonometry, we can also find a formula for the area of non-right

triangles. Given that the angle between sides a and b is 𝜃, the area of the c
triangle is a*b*sin𝜃/2.
a
The formula for the area of any triangle, given its three side lengths, is
𝑟+𝑟+𝑟
√𝑟(𝑟 − 𝑟)(𝑟 − 𝑟)(𝑟 − 𝑟) where s= 2 b

Triangle Problems

If a triangle with an area of 84 has side lengths of 13, 14, and 15, what are the three angles of the

triangle? (Use a calculator)

What is the area of a triangle with side lengths 5, 7, and 9?

If two angles of a triangle are equal, what type of triangle is it? If all three angles of a triangle are

equal, what type of triangle is it?

What is tangent in terms of sine and cosine?

What is sin 30? What is cos 30? If the angles of a triangle are 30 degrees, 60 degrees, and 90

degrees, what is the ratio of the lengths of the sides of the triangle?

If the angles of a triangle are 45 degrees, 45 degrees, and 90 degrees, what is the ratio of the

lengths of the sides of the triangle?