Question
What's the best way to measure square ft. if the area is asymmetrical in shape. It
has 9 sides.

Answer
Hello,

First,break the area up into polygons such as triangles and parallelograms. Then compute the area of the individual polygons.

The formula for computing the area of a triangle is:

A = .5bh

where A is the area

.5 is half the product of the base and height

b is the base

h is the height


The formula for computing a parallelogram is as follows:

A = bh

where A is the area

b is the base

h is the height




Formula for computing the area of a rhombus:

A = .5d1d2

where A is the area

d1 is the first diagonal

d2 is the second diagonal


Formula for computing the area of a trapezoid:

A = .5h(b1 + b2)

where A is the area

.5h is the height multiplied by half

b1 and b2 are the bases.


The area of any regular polygon,when the perimeter and apothem (a line from the midpoint of one of the sides to the center of the polygon) is known,is:

A = .5aP

The area equals 0.5 multiplied by the apothem and perimeter.


Good luck. Let me know if I can be of further help.


Mark Harshman


For more comprehensive help check out my website at:

http://www.prestoexperts.com/expert/markland