Area of Isosceles Triangle –
Let ABC be an isosceles triangle with AB = AC = a and BC = b, and AD be the perpendicular from A on BC.
Then, D is the mid-point of BC, i.e. BD = b/2
In right angled △ ABD, by Pythagoras theorem, we have –
AD² = AB² - BD²
b
=> AD² = a² - (------)²
2
b² 4a² - b²
=> AD² = a² - ------- = ------------
4 4
√(4a² - b²)
=> AD = --------------
2
1
So, the area of △ABD = ------- X BC X AD
2
1 √(4a² - b²)
= ------ X b X -------------
2 2
1
= ------- b √(4a² - b²)
4
So, area of Isosceles △ABC with AB = AC = a units and BC = b units
1
= --------- b √(4a² - b²) sq units
4
Perimeter of isosceles triangle = (2a + b) units
Example.) The perimeter of an isosceles triangle is 42 cm and base is
1
1 ------- times each of the equal
2
sides. Find - i) the length of each side of the triangle
ii) the area of the triangle
iii) the height of the triangle
Ans.) i) let each of the equal side of the triangle is a cm & base b cm
1 3a
Then, b = 1 ------ a = --------
2 2
So, a + a + b = 42
3a
So, a + a + -------- = 42
2
2a + 2a + 3a
So, --------------- = 42
2
7a
So, --------- = 42
2
42 X 2
So, a = ----------- = 12 cm
7
So, each equal side => a = 12 cm,
3
and base => b = ------ X 10 = 18 cm (Ans.)
2
1
ii) Area of the triangle = (------ b√4a² - b²) cm²
4
1
= ------ X 18 X (√4 X 12² - 18²)
4
18
= ------- √576 – 324
4
9
= ------- X 15.87 = 71.41 cm² (Ans.)
2
√4a² - b²
iii) Height of the triangle = (------------)
2
√(4 X 12²) - 18²
= ------------------
2
√576 – 324 15.87
= ------------- = ---------- = 7.94 cm (Ans.)
2 2
Example.2) The base of an isosceles triangle is 24 cm and its area is 192 cm² find its perimeter.
Ans.) Given b = 24 cm
As per the formulae –
1
Area = (------- b√4a² - b²) cm²
4
1
=> 192 cm² = (------ 24 √4a² - 24²)
4
=> 6√4a² - 24² = 192
=> 6√(4a²- 576) = 192
=> 6√4 (a² - 144) = 192
=> (6 X 2) √a² - 144 = 192
=> √a² - 144 = 16
=> (√a² - 144)² = 16²
=> a² - 144 = 256
=> a² = 256 + 144 = 400
=> a² = 20²
=> a = 20
So, side of the isosceles triangle a = 20, and base b = 24
Hence, the required perimeter = (2a + b) = {(2 X 20) + 24}
= 40 + 24 = 64 cm
Hence the perimeter of the said isosceles triangle is 64 cm (Ans.)