Heron's formula can be used when you just know the length of each side. This says
Area = √[s*(s-a)*(s-b)*(s-c)] where a, b and c are the lengths of the sides and s = (a+b+c)/2.
Here: s = (5+12+9)/2 = 13, so:
$${\mathtt{Area}} = {\sqrt{{\mathtt{13}}{\mathtt{\,\times\,}}\left({\mathtt{13}}{\mathtt{\,-\,}}{\mathtt{5}}\right){\mathtt{\,\times\,}}\left({\mathtt{13}}{\mathtt{\,-\,}}{\mathtt{12}}\right){\mathtt{\,\times\,}}\left({\mathtt{13}}{\mathtt{\,-\,}}{\mathtt{9}}\right)}} \Rightarrow {\mathtt{Area}} = {\mathtt{20.396\: \!078\: \!054\: \!371\: \!139\: \!3}}$$
Area ≈ 20.396
Heron's formula can be used when you just know the length of each side. This says
Area = √[s*(s-a)*(s-b)*(s-c)] where a, b and c are the lengths of the sides and s = (a+b+c)/2.
Here: s = (5+12+9)/2 = 13, so:
$${\mathtt{Area}} = {\sqrt{{\mathtt{13}}{\mathtt{\,\times\,}}\left({\mathtt{13}}{\mathtt{\,-\,}}{\mathtt{5}}\right){\mathtt{\,\times\,}}\left({\mathtt{13}}{\mathtt{\,-\,}}{\mathtt{12}}\right){\mathtt{\,\times\,}}\left({\mathtt{13}}{\mathtt{\,-\,}}{\mathtt{9}}\right)}} \Rightarrow {\mathtt{Area}} = {\mathtt{20.396\: \!078\: \!054\: \!371\: \!139\: \!3}}$$
Area ≈ 20.396