5.7k views
3 votes
If A(-5,7), B(-4,-5), C(-1,-6) and D(4,5) are the vertices of a quadrilateral, find the area of the quadrilateral ABCD.

1 Answer

5 votes
After plotting the quadrilateral in a Cartesian plane, you can see that it is not a particular quadrilateral. Hence, you need to divide it into two triangles. Let's take ABC and ADC.

The area of a triangle with vertices known is given by the matrix
M =
\left[\begin{array}{ccc} x_(1)&y_(1)&1\\x_(2)&y_(2)&1\\x_(3)&y_(3)&1\end{array}\right]

Area = 1/2· | det(M) |
= 1/2· | x₁·y₂ - x₂·y₁ + x₂·y₃ - x₃·y₂ + x₃·y₁ - x₁·y₃ |
= 1/2· | x₁·(y₂ - y₃) + x₂·(y₃ - y₁) + x₃·(y₁ - y₂) |

Therefore, the area of ABC will be:
A(ABC) = 1/2· | (-5)·(-5 - (-6)) + (-4)·(-6 - 7) + (-1)·(7 - (-5)) |
= 1/2· | -5·(1) - 4·(-13) - 1·(12) |
= 1/2 | 35 |
= 35/2

Similarly, the area of ADC will be:
A(ABC) = 1/2· | (-5)·(5 - (-6)) + (4)·(-6 - 7) + (-1)·(7 - 5) |
= 1/2· | -5·(11) + 4·(-13) - 1·(2) |
= 1/2 | -109 |
= 109/2

The total area of the quadrilateral will be the sum of the areas of the two triangles:

A(ABCD) = A(ABC) + A(ADC)
= 35/2 + 109/2
= 72
User Pedro Faria
by
8.1k points

No related questions found

Welcome to QAmmunity.org, where you can ask questions and receive answers from other members of our community.

9.4m questions

12.2m answers

Categories