shoelace formula

English

Shoelace scheme for determining the area of a polygon with point coordinates $(x_{1},y_{1}),...,(x_{n},y_{n})$

Etymology

So called because the constant cross-multiplying for the coordinates making up the polygon is analogous to the threading of shoelaces.

Proper noun

the shoelace formula

1. (mathematics) An algorithm to determine the area of a simple polygon whose vertices are described by their Cartesian coordinates in the plane.

   Synonyms: Gauss's area formula, surveyor's formula