If the centroid of a triangle is (1, 4) and two of its vertices are (4, −3) and (−9, 7), then the area of the triangle is
(a) 183 sq. units
(b) $\frac{183}{2}$ sq. units
(c) 366 sq. units
(d) $\frac{183}{4}$ sq. units
We have to find the co-ordinates of the third vertex of the given triangle. Let the co-ordinates of the third vertex be $(x, y)$.
The co-ordinates of other two vertices are (4,−3) and (−9, 7)
The co-ordinate of the centroid is (1, 4)
We know that the co-ordinates of the centroid of a triangle whose vertices are $\left(x_{1}, y_{1}\right),\left(x_{2}, y_{2}\right),\left(x_{3}, y_{3}\right)$ is
$\left(\frac{x_{1}+x_{2}+x_{3}}{3}, \frac{y_{1}+y_{2}+y_{3}}{3}\right)$
So,
$(1,4)=\left(\frac{x+4-9}{3}, \frac{y-3+7}{3}\right)$
Compare individual terms on both the sides-
$\frac{x-5}{3}=1$
So,
$x=8$
Similarly,
$\frac{y+4}{3}=4$
So,
$y=8$
So the co-ordinate of third vertex is (8, 8)
In general if $\mathrm{A}\left(x_{1}, y_{1}\right) ; \mathrm{B}\left(x_{2}, y_{2}\right) ; \mathrm{C}\left(x_{3}, y_{3}\right)$ are non-collinear points then are of the triangle formed is given by-,
$\operatorname{ar}(\Delta \mathrm{ABC})=\frac{1}{2}\left|x_{1}\left(y_{2}-y_{3}\right)+x_{2}\left(y_{3}-y_{1}\right)+x_{3}\left(y_{1}-y_{2}\right)\right|$
So,
$\operatorname{ar}(\triangle \mathrm{ABC})=\frac{1}{2}|4(7-8)-9(8+3)+8(-3-7)|$
$=\frac{1}{2}|-4-99-80|$
$=\frac{183}{2}$
So the answer is (b)