Heron’s formula – Triangle with sides 13 cm, 14 cm, 15 cm:\nFind the exact area (in square centimetres) of a triangle whose side lengths are 13 cm, 14 cm, and 15 cm.

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: 84

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
For a triangle given by three sides, use Heron’s formula: Area = √(s(s − a)(s − b)(s − c)), where s is the semiperimeter.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • a = 13 cm, b = 14 cm, c = 15 cm.
  • All sides satisfy the triangle inequality.


Concept / Approach:
Compute s, then apply Heron’s formula carefully without rounding until the end to keep it exact.


Step-by-Step Solution:

s = (13 + 14 + 15) / 2 = 42 / 2 = 21.Area = √(21 * (21 − 13) * (21 − 14) * (21 − 15))= √(21 * 8 * 7 * 6) = √(21 * 336) = √(7056) = 84 sq cm.


Verification / Alternative check:
13-14-15 is a classic Heron triple yielding area 84; many exam keys list this as a standard exact value.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
64, 44, 22 are not consistent with Heron’s calculation for these sides.


Common Pitfalls:
Arithmetic slips in semiperimeter or inside the square root; premature rounding.


Final Answer:
84

More Questions from Area

Discussion & Comments

No comments yet. Be the first to comment!
Join Discussion