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12 HERON’S FORMULA
EXERCISE 12.1
Q.1. A traffic signal board, indicating ‘SCHOOL AHEAD’, is an equilateral
triangle with side ‘a’. Find the area of the signal board, using Heron’s
formula. If its perimeter is 180 cm, what will be the area of the signal
board?
Sol. Each side of the triangle = a
Perimeter of the triangle = 3a
3a
∴ s =
2
∴ Area of the signal board (triangle) = s(s − a) (s − b) (s − c)

= s(s − a) (s − a) (s − a) [ a = b = c]

⎛ 3a ⎞ 3a ⎛ 3a ⎞
= (s – a) s(s − a) = ⎜ − a⎟ ⎜ − a⎟
⎝ 2 ⎠ 2 ⎝ 2 ⎠
a 3a2 a a a2
= ⋅ = ⋅ 3= 3
2 4 2 2 4
a2
Hence, area of the signal board = 3 sq units Ans.
4
Now, perimeter = 180 cm
180
Each side of the triangle = cm = 60 cm
3
2
(60)
Area of the triangle = × 3 cm2 = 900 3 cm2 Ans.
4
Q.2. The triangular side walls of a flyover have been used for advertisements.
The sides of the walls are 122 m, 22 m and 120 m (see Fig.). The
advertisements yield an earning of Rs 5000 per m2 per year. A company
hired one of its walls for 3 months. How much rent did it pay?

Sol. Here, we first find the area of the triangular side walls.
a = 122 m, b = 120 m and c = 22 m
122 + 120 + 22
∴ s = m = 132 m.
2
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Area of the triangular side wall = s(s − a) (s − b) (s − c)

= 132 (132 − 122 ) (132 − 120 ) (132 − 22 ) m 2

= 132 × 10 × 12 × 110 m2 = 1320 m2

Rent of 1 m2 of the wall for 1 year = Rs 5000
5000
∴ Rent of 1 m2 of the wall for 1 month = Rs
12
∴ Rent of the complete wall (1320 m2) for 3 months
5000
= Rs × 1320 × 3 = Rs 16,50,000 Ans.
12
Q.3. There is a slide in a park. One of its side walls has been painted in some
colour with a message “KEEP THE PARK GREEN AND CLEAN” (see
Fig.). If the sides of the wall are 15 m, 11 m and 6 m, find the area painted
in colour.

Sol. Here a = 15 m, b = 11 m, c = 6 m
a + b + c 15 + 11 + 6
∴ s = = m = 16 m
2 2
Area of the triangle = s(s − a) ( s − b) ( s − c)

= 16 (16 − 15) (16 − 11) (16 − 6) m2

= 16 × 1 × 5 × 10 m2 = 20 2 m2

Hence, the area painted in colour = 20 2 m2 Ans.

Q.4. Find the area of a triangle two sides of which are 18 cm and 10 cm and
the perimeter is 42 cm.
Sol. Here a = 18 cm, b = 10 cm, c = ?
Perimeter of the triangle = 42 cm
⇒ a + b + c = 42
⇒ 18 + 10 + c = 42
⇒ c = 42 – 28 = 14
a + b + c 42
Now, s = = cm = 21 cm
2 2
Area of the triangle = s(s − a) ( s − b) ( s − c)
= 21(21 − 18) (21 − 10) (21 − 14) cm2
= 21 × 3 × 11 × 7 cm2 = 7 × 3 × 3 × 11 × 7 cm2
= 7 × 3 11 cm2 = 21 11 cm 2 Ans.
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Q.5. Sides of a triangle are in the ratio of 12 : 17 : 25 and its perimeter is

540 cm. Find its area.
Sol. Let the sides of the triangle be 12x cm 17x cm and 25x cm.
Perimeter of the triangle = 540 cm
∴ 12x + 17x + 25x = 540
⇒ 54 x = 540
540
⇒ x= = 10
54
∴ Sides of the triangle are (12 × 10) cm, (17 × 10) cm and (25 × 10) cm i.e.,
120 cm, 170 cm and 250 cm.
Now, suppose a = 120 cm, b = 170 cm, c = 250 cm,
+ b + c 540
∴ s= a = cm = 270 cm
2 2
Area of the triangle = s(s − a) (s − b) (s − c)

= 270 (270 − 120) (270 − 170) (270 − 250) cm 2

= 270 × 150 × 100 × 20 cm 2 = 9000 cm2 Ans.

Q.6. An isosceles triangle has perimeter 30 cm and each of the equal sides is
12 cm. Find the area of the tirangle.
Sol. Here, a = b = 12 cm,
Also, a + b + c = 30 ⇒ 12 + 12 + c = 30 ⇒ c = 30 – 24 = 6
a+ b+ c 30
∴ s= = cm = 15 cm
2 2
∴ Area of the triangle = s(s − a) (s − b) (s − c)

= 15 (15 − 12 ) (15 − 12 ) (15 − 6 ) cm 2

= 15 × 3 × 3 × 9 cm 2 = 9 15 cm 2 Ans.
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12 HERON’S FORMULA
EXERCISE 12.2
Q.1. A park, in the shape of a quadrilateral ABCD, has ∠C = 90°,
AB = 9 m, BC = 12 m, CD = 5 m and AD = 8 m. How much area does it
occupy?
Sol. ABCD is the park as shown in the figure.
Join BD.
In ∆DBC, we have
DB2 = BC2 + CD2 [Pythagoras theorem]
⇒ DB2 = (12)2 + 52
⇒ DB = 144 + 25 = 169
⇒ DB = 13 m.
1
Area of ∆DBC = 2 × base × height

1
= 2 × 12 × 5 m2 = 30 m2
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In ∆ABD, a = 9 m, b = 8 m, c = 13 m
a + b + c 9 + 8 + 13
∴ s = = m = 15 m
2 2
∴ Area of ∆ABD = s(s − a) (s − b) (s − c)

= 15 (15 − 9) (15 − 8) (15 − 13) m2

= 15 × 6 × 7 × 2 m2
= 1260 m2 = 35.5 m2 (approx.)
∴ Area of the park = area of ∆DBC + area of ∆ABD
= (30 + 35.5) m2 = 65.5 m2 Ans.
Q.2. Find the area of a quadrilateral ABCD in which AB = 3 cm,
BC = 4 cm, CD = 4 cm, DA = 5 cm and AC = 5 cm.
Sol. In ∆ABC, we have
AB2 + BC2 = 9 + 16 = 25
= AC2
Hence, ABC is a right triangle, right angled at B
[By converse of Pythagoras theorem]
1
∴ Area of ∆ABC = × base × height
2
1
= × 3 × 4 cm2 = 6 cm2.
2
In ∆ACD, a = 5 cm, b = 4 cm, c = 5 cm.
a+ b+ c 5+4+5
∴ s = = cm = 7 cm
2 2
∴ Area of ∆ACD = s(s − a) (s − b) (s − c)

= 7 × (7 − 5) (7 − 4) (7 − 5) cm2 = 7 × 2 × 3 × 2 cm2

= 84 cm2 = 9.2 cm2 (approx.)

∴ Area of the quadrilateral = area of ∆ABC + area of ∆ACD
= (6 + 9.2) cm2 = 15.2 cm2 Ans.

Q.3. Radha made a picture of an

aeroplane with coloured paper
as shown in the figure. Find the
total area of the paper used.

Sol. For the triangle marked I :

a = 5 cm, b = 5 cm, c = 1 cm
a+ b+ c 5+5+1 11
∴ s = = cm = cm = 5.5 cm
2 2 2
Area of the triangle = s(s − a) (s − b) (s − c)
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= 5.5 (5.5 − 5) (5.5 − 5) (5.5 − 1) cm 2

= 5.5 × 0.5 × 0.5 × 4.5 cm 2 = 6.1875 cm 2 = 2.5 cm2
For the rectangle marked II :
Length = 6.5 cm, Breadth = 1 cm
Area of the rectangle = 6.5 × 1 cm2 = 6.5 cm2
For the trapezium marked III :
Draw AF || DC and AE ⊥ BC.
AD = FC = 1 cm, DC = AF = 1 cm
∴ BF = BC – FC = (2 – 1) cm = 1 cm
Hence, ∆ABF is equilateral.
Also, E is the mid-point of BF.
1
∴ BE = cm = 0.5 cm
2
Also, AB2 = AE2 + BE2 [Pythagoras theorem]
⇒ AE2 = 12 – (0.5)2 = 0.75
⇒ AE = 0.9 cm (approx.)
1
Area of the trapezium = (sum of the parallel sides) × distance between them.
2
1 1
= × (BC + AD) × AE = × (2 + 1) × 0.9 cm2 = 1.4 cm2.
2 2
For the triangle marked IV :
It is a right-triangle
1
∴ Area of the triangle = × base × height
2
1
= × 6 × 1.5 cm cm2 = 4.5 cm2.
2
For the triangle marked V :
This triangle is congruent to the triangle marked IV.
Hence, area of the triangle = 4.5 cm2
Total area of the paper used = (2.5 + 6.5 + 1.4 + 4.5 + 4.5) cm2
= 19.4 cm2 Ans.
Q.4. A triangle and a parallelogram have the same base and the same area. If
the sides of the triangle are 26 cm, 28 cm and 30 cm and the parallelogram
stands on the base 28 cm, find the height of the parallelogram.
Sol. In the figure, ABCD is a parallelogram and ABE is the
triangle which stands on the base AB
For the triangle ABE, a = 30 cm, b = 28 cm, c = 26 cm.
a + b + c 30 + 28 + 26
∴ s = = cm = 42 cm
2 2
∴ Area of the ∆ABE = s(s − a) (s − b) (s − c)
= 42 (42 − 30) (42 − 28) (42 − 26) cm 2
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= 42 × 12 × 14 × 16 cm2 = 112896 cm2

= 336 cm2
Now, area of the parallelogram = base × height
⇒ 336 = 28 × height [Given, area of the triangle
= area of the parallelogram]
336
⇒ Height of the parallelogram = cm = 12 cm Ans.
28
Q.5. A rhombus shaped field has green grass for 18 cows to graze. If each side
of the rhombus is 30 m and its longer diagonal is 48 m, how much area
of grass field will each cow be getting?
Sol. Clearly, the diagonal AC of the rhombus divides it into two congruent
triangles.
For triangle ABC, a = b = 30 m, c = 48 m.
a + b + c 30 + 30 + 48
∴ s = = m = 54 m
2 2
∴ Area of the triangle
= s(s − a) (s − b) (s − c)

= 54 (54 − 30) (54 − 30) (54 − 48) m2

= 54 × 24 × 24 × 6 m2 = 432 m2
∴ Area of the rhombus = 2 × 432 m2 = 864 m2
Number of cows = 18
Hence, area of the grass field which each cow gets
864
= m2 = 48 m2 Ans.
18
Q.6. An umbrella is made by stitching 10 triangular
pieces of cloth of two different colours (see Fig.),
each piece measuring 20 cm, 50 cm, and 50 cm.
How much cloth of each colour is required for the
umbrella?
Sol. First we find the area of one triangular piece.
Here, a = b = 50 cm, c = 20 cm
a + b + c 50 + 50 + 20
∴ s = = cm = 60 m
2 2
∴ Area of one triangular piece = s(s − a) (s − b) (s − c)

= 60 (60 − 50) (60 − 50) (60 − 20) cm2

= 60 × 10 × 10 × 40 cm2 = 200 6 cm2

∴ Area of 10 such triangular pieces = 10 × 200 6 cm2

= 2000 6 cm2
2000 6
Hence, cloth required for each colour = cm2 = 1000 6 cm2 Ans.
2
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Q.7. A kite in the shape of a square with a diagonal 32 cm

and an isosceles triangle of base 8 cm and sides 6 cm
each is to be made of three different shades as shown
in figure. How much paper of each shade has been
used in it?
Sol. ABCD is a square.
So, AO = OC = OB = OD
and ∠AOB = 90° [Diagonals of a square bisect 8 cm
each other at right angles]
32
BD = 32 cm (Given) ⇒ OA = cm = 16 cm.
2
∆ABD is a right triangle.
1
So, area of ∆ABD = × base × height
2
1
= × 32 × 16 cm2 = 256 cm2
2
Thus, area of ∆BCD = 256 cm2
For triangle CEF, a = b = 6 cm, c = 8 cm.
a+ b+ c 6+6+8
∴ s = = cm = 10 cm
2 2
∴ Area of the triangle = s(s − a) (s − b) (s − c)

= 10 (10 − 6) (10 − 6) (10 − 8) cm2

= 10 × 4 × 4 × 2 cm2 =
320 cm2 = 17.92 cm2
Hence, paper needed for shade I = 256 cm2, for shade II
= 256 cm2 and for shade III = 17.92 cm 2 Ans.
Q.8. A floral design on a floor is made up of 16
tiles which are triangular, the sides of the
triangle being 9 cm, 28 cm and 35 cm (see
figure). Find the cost of polishing the tiles
at the rate of 50 p per cm2.
Sol. We have lengths of the sides of
1 triangular tile are a = 35 cm, b = 28 cm,
c = 9 cm.

a+ b+ c 35 + 28 + 9
∴ s = = cm = 36 cm
2 2

∴ Area of 1 triangular tile = s( s − a) ( s − b) ( s − c)

= 36 (36 − 35) (36 − 28) (36 − 9) cm2

= 36 × 1 × 8 × 27 cm2 = 7776 cm2 = 88.2 cm2

∴ Area of 16 such tiles = 16 × 88.2 cm2
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Cost of polishing 1 cm2 = 50 p = Re 0.50

∴ Total cost of polishing the floral design = Rs 16 × 88.2 × 0.50
= Rs 705.60 Ans.
Q.9. A field is in the shape of a trapezium whose parallel sides are 25 m and
10 m. The non-parallel sides are 14 m and 13 m. Find the area of the field.
Sol. In the figure ABCD is the field. Draw CF || DA and CG ⊥ AB.
DC = AF = 10 m, AD = FC = 13 m
For ∆BCF, a = 15 m, b = 14 m, c = 13 m
a + b + c 15 + 14 + 13
∴s = = m = 21 m
2 2
∴ Area of ∆BCF = s(s − a) (s − b) (s − c)

= 21 (21 − 15) (21 − 14) (21 − 13) m2

= 21 × 6 × 7 × 8 m2

= 7056 cm2 = 84 m2

Also, area of ∆BCF = 1 × base × height

2

= 1 × BF × CG
2

⇒ 84 = 1 × 15 × CG
2
84 × 2
⇒ CG = m = 11.2 m
15

∴ Area of the trapezium = 1 × sum of the parallel sides × distance

2
between them.

= 1 × (25 + 10) × 11.2 m2

2
= 196 m2
Hence, area of the field = 196 m2 Ans.