how do you find the area of a trapezoid
How do you find the area of a trapezoid
Answer:
To find the area of a trapezoid, you can use the following formula:
Area = (a + b) * h / 2
where:
- ( a ) and ( b ) are the lengths of the two parallel sides of the trapezoid.
- ( h ) is the height (perpendicular distance) between the two parallel sides.
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Measure the Length of the Parallel Sides: The first step is to measure the lengths of the two parallel sides of the trapezoid, let’s call them ( a ) and ( b ).
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Measure the Height: Then, measure the height (perpendicular distance) between the two parallel sides.
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Apply the Formula: Substitute the values of ( a ), ( b ), and ( h ) into the formula ( Area = (a + b) * h / 2 ) and calculate the area.
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Units: Don’t forget to include the correct units in your final answer. The area will be in square units (e.g., square inches, square centimeters) since it’s a measure of two-dimensional space.
By following these steps and utilizing the formula for the area of a trapezoid, you can easily calculate the area of any trapezoid given its dimensions.