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In Heron's formula, what does the quantity s stand for?
AThe whole perimeter
BThe longest side
CHalf of the perimeter
DThe shortest side
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: C. Half of the perimeter
1. Heron's formula starts by adding the three side lengths together.
2. That total is the perimeter, and s is one half of it.
3. For this reason s is also called the semi-perimeter.
_Source: OpenStax Precalculus (CC BY 4.0), Ch 8 "Further Applications of Trigonometry", section 8.2 Non-right Triangles: Law of Cosines_
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