Video Transcript
A small triangular flower bed has
measurements as shown in the diagram. Calculate its area in square
feet. Give your answer to two decimal
places.
In this problem, we are asked to
find the area of a triangle. It isnβt a right triangle, and we
havenβt been given its base length and perpendicular height. So, weβll recall instead the
trigonometric formula for the area of a triangle. In any triangle π΄π΅πΆ, where the
lowercase letters π, π, and π represent its three side lengths and the uppercase
letters π΄, π΅, and πΆ represent the opposite angles, then the area of such a
triangle can be found using the formula a half ππ sin π.
Notice that the information we need
in order to apply this formula is two side lengths and then the measure of their
included angle, which is sometimes referred to as their enclosed angle. Itβs the angle between the two side
lengths we know that we also need to know. In this problem, we are given the
length of two sides; they are 4.5 and four feet, respectively. But we donβt know the measure of
the angle between them. We are given the measures of the
other two angles, though, and so we can work out the measure of the final angle in
the triangle, using the fact that the angles in any triangle sum to 180 degrees. Subtracting the measures of the
other two angles from 180 degrees then, we find that the measure of the third angle
is 106 degrees.
We now have all the information we
need in order to apply the trigonometric formula for the area of a triangle. We may find it helpful, though, to
label the triangle using the letters π, π, and π, but this isnβt essential. Substituting four and 4.5 for the
two known side lengths and 106 degrees for the measure of their included angle, we
have that the area of this triangle is equal to a half multiplied by four multiplied
by 4.5 multiplied by sin of 106 degrees. Simplifying, we have nine sin of
106 degrees. And we can then evaluate this on a
calculator, ensuring that it is in degree mode. That gives 8.651 continuing. The question specifies that we
should give our answer to two decimal places. So, as the figure in the third
decimal place is a one, we round down to 8.65.
By applying the trigonometric
formula for the area of a triangle then, we found that the area of this triangular
flower bed to two decimal places is 8.65 square feet.
