A.

Introduction
1. Backgrounds
With development of science, especially in the field of mathematical, the
scientists keep searching, researching, and trying to find something new in mathematics
in problem solving.
The mathematics, which one new thing is the formula to determine the area of
plane. Typically, determine the extent up flat in use formulas that already exist.
However, problem would happen if the formula cant be use, because the length of each
side on plane is unknown.
To that end, the author will use the determinant in determine the area of plane.
Determinant is one way in determining the area of plane. Using the determinant will
become easier if the formula is already known. To that end, the authors first prove the
formula to be used in determining the area of plane.
2. Purpose
Writing this article to provide some information to the reader that to
determine the area of plane can be done using determinant.
3. Benefits
The benefit of writing this article is as a reference for my friends who are
taking linear algebra or plane geometry subject or another subject, so that to
determine the area of plane that length and width are unknown can be made
easier and faster. Moreover, it can also be reference reference for teachers who
want to more easy to determine the area of the plane.
Then, for teacher who want to teach about the area of plane that length
and width are unknown to student can take advantage of application of
determinant as alternative of learning that interactive to student.
1
B. Explanation
1. The Area of Plane
1.1 Triangels
Formula for the area of a triangle is :
) (
2
1
hight base triangle a of Area
Or :
) )( )( ( c s b s a s s triangle a of Area
( ) c b a s where + +
2
1
:
2.1 Rectangle
Formula for the area of a rectangle is :
width length ngle recta a of Area
3.1 Square
Formula for the area of a square is :
side side square a of Area
4.1 Paralellogram
Formula for the area of a paralellogram is :
Area of a paralelogram = base x hight
5.1 Trapezoid
Formula for the area of a paralellogram is :
) ( ) (
2
1
2 1
base base hight trapezoid a of Area +
6.1 Rhombus
Formula for the area of a rhombus is :
) (
2
1
2 1
diagonal diagonal trapezoid a of Area
2
2. Determinant
Definition : Let A be a square matrix. The determinant function is denoted by
det, and we define det(A) to be the sum of all signed elementary products from A.
The number det(A) is called the determinant of A.
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
( ) ( ) ( )
22 31 32 21 13
23 31 33 21 12 23 32 33 22 11
32 31
22 21
13
33 31
23 21
12
33 32
23 22
11
33 32 31
23 22 21
13 12 11
det
a a a a a
a a a a a a a a a a
a a
a a
a
a a
a a
a
a a
a a
a
a a a
a a a
a a a
+

1
]
1

+
1
]
1

1
]
1

1
1
1
]
1

Or :
32 31
22 21
12 11
33 32 31
23 22 21
13 12 11
33 32 31
23 22 21
13 12 11
det
a a
a a
a a
a a a
a a a
a a a
a a a
a a a
a a a
1
1
1
]
1

1
1
1
]
1

32 23 11 33 21 12 31 22 13 32 21 13 31 23 12 33 22 11
a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a + +
Example :
240
) 72 ( ) 48 ( ) 105 ( 96 84 45
8 7
5 4
2 1
9 8 7
6 5 4
3 2 1
9 8 7
6 5 4
3 2 1
det

+ +

1
1
1
]
1

1
1
1
]
1

3
) , (
2 2
y x B
) , (
3 3
y x C
2
y
1
y
3
y
) , (
1 1
y x A
2 3
x x
1 2
x x
) 0 , (
1
x D ) 0 , (
2
x E ) 0 , (
3
x F
Theorem : If A is an
n n
triangular matrix (upper triangular, lower triangular,
or diagonal), then det(A) is the product of the entries on the main diagonal ; that
is, nn
a a a A ... ) det(
22 11

.
44 33 22 11
44 43 42 41
33 32 31
22 21
11
0
0 0
0 0 0
a a a a
a a a a
a a a
a a
a

1
1
1
1
]
1

Example :
8 2 4 1
2 0 0
5 4 0
3 9 1

1
1
1
]
1

3. Determine the Area of Plane

3.1 Triangles
Assume : If a triangle with vertices
) , ( ), , ( ), , (
3 3 2 2 1 1
y x C and y x B y x A
4
Y
X
1
1
1
]
1

'

+
+
+ +
+ +
+ + +
+

3 2 1
3 2 1
2 1
2 1
3 1
3 1
3 2
3 2
1 2 2 1 1 3 3 1 2 3 3 2
3 2 2 3 2 1 1 2 3 1 1 3
2 2 3 2 2 3 3 3
1 1 2 1 1 2 2 2 3 1 1 1 3 3 1 3
2 3 2 3 1 2 1 2 3 1 1 3
1 1 1
det
2
1
2
1
)} ( ) ( ) {(
2
1
) (
2
1
)
(
2
1
2
) )( (
2
) )( (
2
) )( (
y y y
x x x
y y
x x
y y
x x
y y
x x
y x y x y x y x y x y x
y x y x y x y x y x y x
y x y x y x y x
y x y x y x y x y x y x y x y x
y y x x y y x x y y x x
BEFC of Area ADEB of Area ADFC of Area ABC of Area
) 0 , 0 ( A
) 0 , 4 ( B
) 4 , 0 ( C
X
Using the area of trapezoid, we get the area of triangle ABC is:
Example :
Find the area of triangle with vertices
) 4 , 0 ( ), 0 , 4 ( ), 0 , 0 ( C and B A
Solution :
From figure are known: A (0,0), B(4,0), and C(0,4)
5
Y
Theorem : determinant of triangular matrix
is the product of the entries on the main
diagonal.
) , ( ), , ( ), , ( ), , (
4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1
y x D and y x C y x B y x A
A
B
C
D
X
Y
' A ' B ' C ' D
units
y y y
x x x ABC of area The
8
) 16 (
2
1
) 4 4 1 (
2
1
4 0 0
0 4 0
1 1 1
det
2
1
1 1 1
det
2
1
3 2 1
3 2 1

1
1
1
]
1

1
1
1
]
1

Proof :
From the figure is known : base (b) = 4 units, and hight (h) = 4 units
units
h b ABC area the So
8
16
2
1
4 4
2
1
2
1
,

3.2 Parallelogram
Assume : If a parallelogram with vertices
6
X
Y
) 0 , 0 ( A
) 0 , 4 ( B
) 4 , 6 ( C ) 4 , 2 ( D
Theorem : determinant of triangular matrix
is the product of the entries on the main
diagonal.
Because, area ABCD is
ABC of Area 2
, so area of parallelogram ABCD =
1
1
1
]
1

1
1
1
]
1

3 2 1
3 2 1
3 2 1
3 2 1
1 1 1
det
1 1 1
det
2
1
2
y y y
x x x
y y y
x x x
Where :
) , ( ), , ( ), , (
3 3 2 2 1 1
y x C and y x B y x A
Example :
Find the area of parallelogram with vertices
) 4 , 2 ( ), 4 , 6 ( ), 0 , 4 ( ), 0 , 0 ( D and C B A
Solution :
Because the parallelogram can be formed by two congruent triangles, so we can
to solve with 2 x the area of triangle. Take point A(0,0), B(4,0), and C(6,4), so :
units
y y y
x x x ABC of Area
16
) 4 4 1 (
4 0 0
6 4 0
1 1 1
det
1 1 1
det
3 2 1
3 2 1

1
1
1
]
1

1
1
1
]
1

Proof :
7
X
Y
) 1 , 1 ( A
) 1 , 4 ( B
) 3 , 4 ( C
) 3 , 1 ( D
From the figure are known :
base (b) = 4 units, and hight(h) = 4 units
units
h b am paralellor the of area the So
16
4 4
,

3.3Trapezoid, Rhombus, Square, and Rectangle
Trapezoid, square, rhombus, and rectangle can be formed by two congruent
triangles, then the area of trapezoid, square, rhombus, and rectangle can be
solved by using the formula for the area of parallelogram.
Example :
Find the area of rectangle with vertices A(1,1), B(4,1), C(4,3), and D(1,3)
Solution :
From the figure, we get : A(1,1), B(4,1), and C(4,3)
Because the rectangle can be formed by two congruent triangles, we can
determine the area of rectangle:
8
( ) ( ) ( ) { }
units
y y y
x x x ABC of Area
6
4 1 4 3 4 12
1 1
4 1
3 1
4 1
3 1
4 4
3 1 1
4 4 1
1 1 1
det
1 1 1
det
3 2 1
3 2 1

'

1
]
1

+
1
]
1

1
]
1

1
1
1
]
1

1
1
1
]
1

Proof :
From the figure are known :
base (b) = 3 units, and hight(h) = 2 units
units
h b ngle recta the of area the So
6
2 3
,

3.4 Pentagon
Assume :
The pentagon can be formed by 3 triangles, are:
AED and ACD ABC , ,
, so the area of pentagon is :
9
X
Y
A
B
C
D
E
X
Y
) 3 , 0 ( A
) 0 , 0 ( B ) 1 , 3 ( C
) 2 , 4 ( D
) 4 , 3 ( E

,
_

1
1
1
]
1

+
1
1
1
]
1

+
1
1
1
]
1

5 4 1
5 4 1
4 3 1
4 3 1
3 2 1
3 2 1
1 1 1
det
1 1 1
det
1 1 1
det
2
1
y y y
x x x
y y y
x x x
y y y
x x x
Where :
) , ( ), , ( ), , ( ), , ( ), , (
5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1
y x E and y x D y x C y x B y x A
Example :
Find the area of pentagon with vertices A(0,3), B(0,0), C(3,-1), D(4,2), and
E(3,4)
Solution :

,
_

1
1
1
]
1

+
1
1
1
]
1

+
1
1
1
]
1

5 4 1
5 4 1
4 3 1
4 3 1
3 2 1
3 2 1
1 1 1
det
1 1 1
det
1 1 1
det
2
1
y y y
x x x
y y y
x x x
y y y
x x x ABCDE of Area

,
_

1
1
1
]
1

+
1
1
1
]
1

+
1
1
1
]
1

4 2 3
3 4 0
1 1 1
det
2 1 3
4 3 0
1 1 1
det
1 0 3
3 0 0
1 1 1
det
2
1

,
_

1
]
1

+
1
]
1

1
]
1

,
_

1
]
1

+
1
]
1

1
]
1

1 3
3 0
2 3
4 0
2 1
4 3
0 3
0 0
1 3
3 0
1 0
3 0
2
1
10
) 3 , 0 ( A
) 0 , 0 ( B
) 1 , 3 ( C
) 2 , 4 ( D
) 4 , 3 ( E
) 0 , 0 ( B
) 2 , 4 ( D
) 0 , 0 ( B
) 4 , 3 ( E
5 a
2 , 3 b
5 , 4 c
3 e
5 d
5 , 4 e
2 , 2 b
2 , 3 d
2 , 3 b
I
II
III

,
_

1
]
1

+
1
]
1

1
]
1

+
2 3
4 0
4 3
3 0
4 2
3 4
( ) ( ) ( ) { } ) 12 ( ) 9 ( ) 10 ( ) 9 ( ) 12 ( ) 10 ( ) 0 ( ) 9 ( ) 0 (
2
1
+ + + + +
{ } ) 7 ( ) 13 ( ) 9 (
2
1
+ +
) 29 (
2
1

units 5 , 14
Proof :
From
1
, we get : ( ) ( ) 6 , 5 2 , 11
2
1
2 , 3 5 3
2
1
+ + s
From
2
, we get : ( ) ( ) 9 , 5 7 , 11
2
1
5 , 4 2 , 2 5
2
1
+ + s
From
3

, we get : ( ) ( ) 4 , 5 9 , 10
2
1
2 , 3 2 , 3 5 , 4
2
1
+ + s
11
( ) ( )
( )
( ) ( )
( )
( ) ( ) ( )
units
d s b s b s s
e s d s b s s e s b s a s s
Area Area Area pentagon of Area
8 , 14
8 , 4 2 , 5 8 , 4
5 , 23 5 , 27 20
) 9 , 0 )( 2 , 2 )( 2 , 2 ( 4 , 5
) 9 , 0 )( 7 , 3 )( 4 , 1 ( 9 , 5 ) 4 , 2 )( 6 , 2 )( 6 , 0 ( 6 , 5
) )( )( (
) )( )( ( ) )( )( (
3 2 1

+ +
+ +
+
+
+
+
+ +
3.5 Polygon
Assume
) , ( , ... ), , ( ), , ( ), , (
3 3 2 2 1 1 n n
y x y x y x y x
are vertices of polygon, then
the area of polygon can be written:

1
1
1
]
1

1
1
1
]
1

n
n n
n n
y y y y
x x x x
3
1 2 1
1 2 1
.......
.... ...
1 1 .......... 1 1
det
2
1
1
1
1
]
1

1
1
1
]
1

+ +
1
1
1
]
1

+
1
1
1
]
1

n n
n n
y y y
x x x
y y y
x x x
y y y
x x x
1 1
1 1
4 3 1
4 3 1
3 2 1
3 2 1
1 1 1
det .......
1 1 1
det
1 1 1
det
2
1
Where: n = vertices
C. Conclusion and Recommendation
12
1. Conclusions
To determine the area for plane, we can divide the plane to be some
triangles. Formula :
The number of triangles = n 2
Where: n = vertices
If we use this formula, for determine the area for plane to be easy.
2. Recommendations
The writer would like to suggest that:
a. To determine the area of plane, where length and width are unknown will be
easier to use application of the determinant.
b. With the new formula to determine the area of planer, expected learning
becomes more interesting.
D. References :
13
Anton. Howard.(1984). Elementary Linear Algebra Application Version 7th Edition.
Drexel University.
Middlemiss. Ross R. (1952). College Algebra. Washington University.
http://anrusmath.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/aplikasi-determinan-dalam-
geometri.pdf(access : 1 September 2011)
14