Triangle Calculator

Compute all essential properties of any triangle from three side lengths: area, perimeter, angles, altitudes, medians, circumradius, inradius, and triangle type. Visualize the triangle with labeled sides, angles, and key segments.

precision Decimal digit
AB
BC
CA
Area
∠A
∠B
∠C
Perimeter
Triangle Properties
  • Sum of angles: Always 180°
  • Triangle inequality: Sum of any two sides > third side
  • Area = (base × height) / 2
  • Perimeter = sum of all sides
  • Used in architecture, engineering, and design

Comprehensive Triangle Geometry at Your Fingertips

The Triangle Solver & Geometry Calculator is a complete interactive tool for analyzing any triangle defined by its three side lengths. Whether you are a student learning Euclidean geometry, a teacher preparing classroom demonstrations, an architect calculating roof trusses, or an engineer performing structural analysis, this tool provides instant, accurate results for all key triangle properties.

From the area (via Heron's formula) and perimeter to the angles (via the Law of Cosines), altitudes, medians, circumradius, and inradius — every metric is computed with high precision. The interactive canvas visualizes the triangle, its sides, angles, altitudes, medians, centroid, and orthocenter, making abstract concepts tangible.

Given sides a, b, c, the semi-perimeter is s = (a + b + c) / 2, and the area by Heron's formula:

Δ = √s(s−a)(s−b)(s−c)

Angles via Law of Cosines: cos A = (b² + c² − a²) / (2bc)

Why Use an Interactive Triangle Solver?

  • Instant Verification: Quickly check homework solutions or verify geometric constructions.
  • Visual Learning: See how changing side lengths affects angles, area, and the shape of the triangle in real time.
  • Educational Tool: Perfect for classroom demonstrations, tutoring, and self‑study.
  • Professional Use: Architects and engineers can use it for quick calculations in design and structural analysis.
  • Research & Exploration: Experiment with different triangle types and observe the relationships between properties.

How the Calculations Work

The tool takes three side lengths a, b, and c as input. It first validates the triangle inequality: the sum of any two sides must be greater than the third. If valid, the semi-perimeter s is computed, followed by the area using Heron's formula. Angles are derived from the Law of Cosines, and the remaining properties are calculated using standard geometric formulas:

  • Altitudes: ha = 2Δ / a, hb = 2Δ / b, hc = 2Δ / c
  • Medians: ma = ½ √(2b² + 2c² − a²), and cyclic permutations.
  • Circumradius: R = abc / (4Δ)
  • Inradius: r = Δ / s

The triangle type (acute, right, obtuse, equilateral, isosceles, scalene) is determined by comparing the squared side lengths and angle measures. The interactive canvas is drawn by placing vertex A at the origin, vertex B on the positive x‑axis, and computing vertex C's coordinates using the Law of Cosines.

Step‑by‑Step Usage

  1. Enter the three side lengths a, b, and c in the input fields.
  2. Click Solve Triangle to compute all properties.
  3. Review the results: triangle type, area, perimeter, angles, altitudes, medians, circumradius, and inradius.
  4. Examine the interactive canvas: sides are drawn in green, altitudes in dashed red, medians in dotted purple, and the centroid and orthocenter are marked.
  5. Use the preset examples to explore different triangle types instantly.

Real‑World Applications

Architecture & Structural Engineering

Triangular trusses are fundamental in bridge and roof design. Engineers need to compute the area (for material estimation), angles (for joint fabrication), and altitudes (for load distribution). This calculator provides all these metrics instantly. For example, a symmetrical roof truss with sides 5m, 5m, and 6m has an area of 12 m², an apex angle of approximately 73.7°, and altitudes that determine the placement of vertical supports.

Surveying & Navigation

Surveyors use triangulation to measure distances and angles in the field. Given three measured distances between reference points, the triangle solver can compute the interior angles, which are essential for mapping and geolocation. The circumradius and inradius also play roles in optimizing sensor placement and coverage areas.

Computer Graphics & Game Development

Triangles are the building blocks of 3D meshes. Developers often need to compute triangle properties for collision detection, rendering optimizations, and texture mapping. This tool provides the area (for face culling), angles (for shading calculations), and medians (for mesh subdivision). The interactive visualization helps in debugging mesh topology.

Common Misconceptions About Triangles

  • All triangles with the same side lengths have the same angles. True — SSS congruence ensures uniqueness up to rigid motion.
  • The area of a triangle is always base × height / 2. True, but the height must be perpendicular to the chosen base. Heron's formula provides an alternative when the height is unknown.
  • An obtuse triangle has no acute angles. False — an obtuse triangle has exactly one obtuse angle and two acute angles.
  • The circumcenter is always inside the triangle. False — only for acute triangles. For right triangles, it lies on the hypotenuse; for obtuse triangles, it lies outside.
  • Medians always intersect at the centroid, which is the center of mass. True — the centroid divides each median in a 2:1 ratio.

Triangle Types Explained

TypeConditionsPropertiesExample Sides
Equilaterala = b = cAll angles 60°, all altitudes equal, centroid = orthocenter = circumcenter = incenter3, 3, 3
IsoscelesTwo sides equalTwo angles equal, base angles equal, altitude from apex bisects base5, 5, 6
ScaleneAll sides unequalAll angles unequal, no symmetry4, 5, 6
Righta² + b² = c² (or variant)One angle = 90°, circumcenter at midpoint of hypotenuse3, 4, 5
Acutea² + b² > c² for allAll angles < 90°, orthocenter inside5, 6, 7
Obtusea² + b² < c² (for largest side)One angle > 90°, orthocenter outside4, 5, 7

The Centroid and Orthocenter

The centroid (G) is the intersection of the three medians and is the triangle's center of mass. It divides each median in a 2:1 ratio from the vertex. The orthocenter (H) is the intersection of the altitudes. In acute triangles, both G and H lie inside; in right triangles, H is at the right‑angle vertex; in obtuse triangles, H lies outside. The Euler line connects H, G, and the circumcenter (O), with the property that HG = 2·GO. This tool visualizes both G and H on the canvas, making these abstract concepts concrete.

Frequently Asked Questions

Heron's formula computes the area of a triangle from its three side lengths without needing height or angles. It is especially useful when you only have side measurements, such as in surveying or when working with irregular triangles. The formula is Δ = √(s(s−a)(s−b)(s−c)), where s = (a+b+c)/2 is the semi-perimeter.

The triangle inequality theorem states that the sum of any two sides must be greater than the third side. That is: a + b > c, a + c > b, and b + c > a. If any of these is false, the sides do not form a triangle. The tool automatically checks this and warns you if invalid.

The circumradius (R) is the radius of the circle passing through all three vertices (circumcircle). The inradius (r) is the radius of the circle inscribed inside the triangle, tangent to all three sides. For any triangle, R = abc / (4Δ) and r = Δ / s, where Δ is the area and s is the semi-perimeter.

All calculations use double‑precision floating‑point arithmetic, yielding accuracy to about 15 decimal places. For practical geometry work, this is more than sufficient. The displayed values are rounded to 4 decimal places for readability.

This tool is designed for side‑length input. However, you can easily convert coordinates to side lengths using the distance formula and then enter them. For a coordinate‑based triangle solver, please see our Orthocenter Calculator which accepts coordinates directly.

Explore authoritative resources such as Wolfram MathWorld, Khan Academy, and the classic textbook "Geometry Revisited" by Coxeter and Greitzer.
References: MathWorld Triangle; Coxeter, H.S.M. "Introduction to Geometry" (1969); Wikipedia: Triangle.
Last reviewed and updated: July 2026 by the GetZenQuery tech team.