How to Calculate the Area and Perimeter of a Trapezoid: A Step-by-Step Guide

Trapezoid

A trapezoid is a quadrilateral that has one pair of parallel sides

A trapezoid is a quadrilateral that has one pair of parallel sides. The parallel sides are called the bases of the trapezoid. The other two sides, which are not parallel, are called the legs.

To find the area of a trapezoid, you can use the formula:

Area = (base1 + base2) * height / 2

Here, base1 and base2 represent the lengths of the two parallel sides, and height represents the perpendicular distance between the bases.

For example, let’s say we have a trapezoid with a base1 length of 5 units, base2 length of 9 units, and a height of 4 units. We can substitute these values into the formula to find the area:

Area = (5 + 9) * 4 / 2
= 14 * 4 / 2
= 56 / 2
= 28 square units

So, the area of the trapezoid is 28 square units.

In addition to finding the area, we can also find the perimeter of a trapezoid. The perimeter is the distance around the trapezoid, and it can be calculated by adding up the lengths of all the sides.

To find the perimeter of a trapezoid, you can use the formula:

Perimeter = base1 + base2 + leg1 + leg2

Using the same example as before, let’s say the lengths of the legs are 3 units and 7 units. We can substitute these values into the formula to find the perimeter:

Perimeter = 5 + 9 + 3 + 7
= 24 units

So, the perimeter of the trapezoid is 24 units.

I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any further questions.

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