@Fargle Given a triangle with vertices $(x_1 ,y_1), (x_2 ,y_2),(x_3 ,y_3)$, the sensed area is given by
$$\frac{1}{2}\begin{vmatrix}
x_1 & y_1 & 1\\
x_2 & y_2 & 1\\
x_2 & y_3 & 1
\end{vmatrix}$$
Sensed because it can be negative if we're moving clockwise through the vertices.