Question

Find the area of the quadrilateral whose vertices, taken in order, are (– 4, – 2), (– 3, – 5), (3, – 2) and (2, 3).

Answer 1

Let the vertices of the quadrilateral be A ( - 4, - 2), B ( - 3, - 5), C (3, - 2), and D (2, 3). Join AC to form two triangles ΔABC and ΔACD.

Area of a triangle = 1/2 {x₁ (y₂ - y₃) + x₂ (y₃ - y₁) + x₃ (y₁ - y₂)}
Area of ΔABC = 1/2 [(-4) {(-5) - (-2)} + (-3) {(-2) - (-2)} + 3 {(-2) - (-5)}]
                         =  1/2 (12+0+9)
                         = 21/2 square units
Area of ΔACD = 1/2 [(-4) {(-2) - (3)} + 3{(3) - (-2)} + 2 {(-2) - (-2)}]
                         = 1/2 (20+15+0)
                         = 35/2 square units
Area of ☐ABCD  = Area of ΔABC + Area of ΔACD
                             = (21/2 + 35/2) square units = 28 square units