How do you calculate the area of the polygon?

Question

I create a polygon at the Google Earth 3D viewer. I want to learn a method by which I can calculate its area.

Answer 1

Tycha is correct.

Since you made this shape on a program like that, I will assume that it is a regular polygon

The question for you is "what do you know?"

The answer to that will dictate which equation to use... or at least help guide the method.

A = [ l² • n ] / [ 4 • tan (π/n) ]
where A is area, l is the length of any one side, and n is the number of sides.

Answer 2

No it isn't a problem. The formula for area always works. If we are talking about a square that has sides of length 1/2 foot then the area inside the square is: 1/2 * 1/2 = 1/4 ft^2

Answer 3

If it's a regular polygon, there are formulas that you can look at here:

http://mathforum.org/dr.math/faq/formulas/faq.regpoly.html

If it's not a regular polygon, then divide the whole thing into triangles. That is, draw a line from each vertex to other vertexes until you have a shape made up entirely of triangles. Then calculate the areas all of the triangles individually (A=1/2bh) and add them all up.

Here's a tutorial on how to do it.

http://www.loisterms.com/polyarea.htm

Answer 4

If it is a regular polygon, you can break it up into segments. For example, a regular hexagon is six equilateral triangles.

If it is irregular, it may still be segmentable into regular shapes which areas can be summed.

If it is irregular and cannot easily be segmented, you will have to fall back on calculus.

Answer 5

The easiest way is the 4th grade way. First find out the length and witdh. Then once you have found out that information multiply the length times the width, and that should give you the answer! Ex; length 4cm, width 6cm, so 4x6=24, therefor the answer is 24 sq cm.

Answer 6

If it is a regular polygon:
a is the apothem--perpendicular distance from the center to one side
n the number of sides
area = a^2 * n * tan(pi/n)

Answer 7

base times height equals area