AlgoScope

Polygon Area

AlgorithmintermediateGeometry Algorithmsalso called shoelace formula

Half the absolute sum of cross products of consecutive vertices, the shoelace formula.

Decision · step 2 of 7Plane Geometry: Shoelace area of a pentagon
ABCDE

Edge AB: 1 x 2 - 7 x 1 = -5. Running sum -5.

Open in the player →or start at step 2

What you will see

Triangles fan out from the origin, adding and subtracting area.

How plane geometry works →

Cost

BestO(n)
AverageO(n)
WorstO(n)
SpaceO(1)

How you work with it here

play it through, step one change at a time, scrub to any step, run it on your own input, try operations in any order.

Screen readers: Points announce coordinates and role; each step announces the geometric test and its result in words (left turn, intersects).

Reduced motion: Shapes appear in place; the sweep line jumps between events.

Before this