Heron’s (or Hero’s) Formula Extra Credit Project

What is it all about!?!?

Attention: This project is meant to help raise your grade and give you the opportunity to learn an
extra topic in Geometry. However, if you do not follow the directions, it can lower your grade!
PLEASE read and FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS!

If you know the lengths of the sides of any triangle, you can use Heron’s formula to find the area.

Your job is to make a poster (greater than 8 ½ by 11 inches) that answers the following questions.

1. Who is Heron?
Give me some background on Heron and his accomplishments. What did he do? Where did he live?
Why was he famous? What is the history behind this formula?

2. What is his formula?

Make sure you give a detailed description of the formula (What does each variable represent? What
can we find using this formula?)

3. How can we use this formula?

Come up with a WORD problem using Heron’s formula and then solve this problem. Make it
original and creative!

4. Will Heron’s formula produce the same results as the area of a triangle formula that you have
already learned?
1
Create a WORD problem that can be solved by using BOTH Heron’s formula AND A= bh. Solve
2
the problem using both formulas and discuss your results.

HINT: Try drawing a triangle first and then measure the lengths of the sides.

You will be graded not only on the information you find and present, but also the way in which you present
it! Before you hand this in to me you should ask yourself…
1. Did I answer all four of the questions accurately and thoroughly?
2. Is my work mathematically sound?
3. Is my project neat and organized?
4. Is my project creative and original?
5. If someone who had never heard of Heron’s formula saw my project, would they learn
something?
Refer to the attached rubric for more specific grading criteria.

DUE DATE:
 Rubric
(worth 20 points)
Score Criteria
A
- mathematically accurate and realistic
(20 out of 20) - very creative, poster includes pictures and diagrams
- problems are challenging
- very original (not copied from a webpage or book)
- meets all requirements given in the directions
Solutions to problems:
- are mathematically accurate
- are correct with no errors
- have all steps shown
B
- mathematically accurate and realistic
(17 out of 20) - lacks some creativity
- meets all requirements given in the directions
Solutions to problems:
- are mathematically accurate
- are correct with minor errors
- all steps of solution were shown
C
- realistic but has some mathematical inaccuracies
(15 out of 20) - shows no creativity
- meets three of the requirements given in the directions
Solutions to problems made up:
- contain some mathematical inaccuracies
- contain minor errors
- not all steps of solution were shown
D
- is not mathematically accurate and realistic
(13 out of 20) - shows no creativity
- meets 2 or fewer of the requirements given in the
directions
Solutions to problems made up:
- not mathematically accurate
- not correct
- few steps of solution were shown