To find the area of a trapezoid, use the formula:
Area=(a+b)2×h\text{Area}=\frac{(a+b)}{2}\times hArea=2(a+b)×h
where:
- aaa and bbb are the lengths of the two parallel sides (called the bases),
- hhh is the height (the perpendicular distance between the bases).
Steps to calculate the area:
- Measure the lengths of the two parallel sides aaa and bbb.
- Measure the height hhh, which is the perpendicular distance between the two bases.
- Add the lengths of the bases: a+ba+ba+b.
- Multiply this sum by the height hhh.
- Divide the result by 2.
This formula essentially finds the average length of the two bases and multiplies it by the height, giving the total area enclosed by the trapezoid
Example:
If a trapezoid has bases of 7 units and 9 units, and a height of 5 units, the area is:
A=(7+9)2×5=162×5=8×5=40 square unitsA=\frac{(7+9)}{2}\times 5=\frac{16}{2}\times 5=8\times 5=40\text{ square units}A=2(7+9)×5=216×5=8×5=40 square units
This is the total area of the trapezoid
. This method works for all trapezoids as long as you know the two parallel sides and the height.
