Find the other leg using pythagorean theorem
l^2 + 4^2 = (sqrt97)^2
l^2 + 16 = 97
l^2 = 81
l = 9
so you have two legs one is 4 and one is 9 area of triangle = 1/2 b *h b =base (one leg) h = height (other leg)
area = 1/2 * 9 * 4 = 18 sq inches
Not finished yet ! A square foot is 12 x 12 = 144 in2
so the fraction of a square foot that is 18 inches2 is 18 / 144 = 18/144 = 1/8 ft2