Examples with solutions for Area of a Trapezoid: Suggesting options for terms when the formula result is known

Exercise #1

The trapezoid ABCD has an area equal to 20 cm².

The sum of its bases is 10 cm.

What is the height of the trapezoid?

S=20S=20S=20AAABBBCCCDDD

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve this problem, we'll use the trapezoid area formula:

Given:

  • Area, S=20cm2 S = 20 \, \text{cm}^2
  • Sum of bases, b1+b2=10cm b_1 + b_2 = 10 \, \text{cm}

The formula for the area of a trapezoid is:

S=(b1+b2)2×h S = \frac{(b_1 + b_2)}{2} \times h

Substituting the known values into the formula, we have:

20=102×h 20 = \frac{10}{2} \times h

Simplifying the equation:

20=5×h 20 = 5 \times h

Solving for h h , we divide both sides by 5:

h=205=4cm h = \frac{20}{5} = 4 \, \text{cm}

Therefore, the height of the trapezoid is 4cm 4 \, \text{cm} .

Answer

4 cm

Exercise #2

The trapezoid ABCD has an area of 30 cm².

Side AB is half as long as side DC.

The trapezoid is 5 cm high.

How long are the trapezoid's bases?

S=30S=30S=30555AAABBBCCCDDD

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve this problem, we'll use the following plan:

  • Identify the given values: The area is 30cm2 30 \, \text{cm}^2 , and the height is 5cm 5 \, \text{cm} .
  • Use the area formula for a trapezoid, which is Area=12×(Base1+Base2)×Height\text{Area} = \frac{1}{2} \times (\text{Base}_1 + \text{Base}_2) \times \text{Height}.
  • Recognize the relationship: Since AB is half the length of DC, let the length of AB be x x and DC be 2x 2x .
  • Substitute the known values and relationships into the formula to find x x .

Let's proceed with the calculation:

The formula for the area of a trapezoid is:

Area=12×(Base1+Base2)×Height \text{Area} = \frac{1}{2} \times (\text{Base}_1 + \text{Base}_2) \times \text{Height}

Substitute the known values:

30=12×(x+2x)×5 30 = \frac{1}{2} \times (x + 2x) \times 5

Combine the bases:

30=12×3x×5 30 = \frac{1}{2} \times 3x \times 5

Simplify: 30=15x2 30 = \frac{15x}{2}

Multiply both sides by 2 to clear the fraction:

60=15x 60 = 15x

Divide both sides by 15:

x=4 x = 4

Therefore, the bases are:

  • AB (the shorter base) is 4cm 4 \, \text{cm} .
  • DC (the longer base) is 2x=2×4=8cm 2x = 2 \times 4 = 8 \, \text{cm} .

The lengths of the bases of the trapezoid are 4 cm and 8 cm.\textbf{4 cm and 8 cm.}

Answer

4 cm and 8 cm

Exercise #3

The trapezoid ABCD has an area equal to 20 cm².

The sum of its bases is 10 cm.

What is the height of the trapezoid?

AAABBBCCCDDD

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

The formula for the area of a trapezoid is given by:

A=12×(b1+b2)×h A = \frac{1}{2} \times (b_1 + b_2) \times h

where A A is the area, b1 b_1 and b2 b_2 are the lengths of the two bases, and h h is the height.

We are given:

  • A=20cm2 A = 20 \, \text{cm}^2
  • b1+b2=10cm b_1 + b_2 = 10 \, \text{cm}

We substitute these values into the formula:

20=12×10×h 20 = \frac{1}{2} \times 10 \times h

To find h h , we simplify the equation:

20=5h 20 = 5h

Dividing each side by 5, we get:

h=205 h = \frac{20}{5}

Hence, the height of the trapezoid is:

h=4cm h = 4 \, \text{cm}

Therefore, the height of the trapezoid is 4 cm.

Answer

4 cm

Exercise #4

Given the trapezoid ABCD whose area is equal to 30 cm².

Side AB is equal to half of side DC

The height of the trapezoid is equal to 5cm

How much are the trapeze bases worth?

555AAABBBCCCDDD

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve for the bases of the trapezoid, follow these steps:

  • Let the length of AB AB be x x cm, and since AB AB is half of DC DC , let DC DC be 2x 2x cm.
  • Using the formula for the area of a trapezoid:
  • Area=12×(AB+DC)×height\text{Area} = \frac{1}{2} \times (AB + DC) \times \text{height} \li>Substitute the known values:12×(x+2x)×5=30\frac{1}{2} \times (x + 2x) \times 5 = 30 \item>Simplify and solve for x x : 12×3x×5=30\frac{1}{2} \times 3x \times 5 = 30 7.5x=307.5x = 30 x=307.5=4x = \frac{30}{7.5} = 4 \item>Thus, AB=x=4cm AB = x = 4 \, \text{cm} and DC=2x=8cm DC = 2x = 8 \, \text{cm} .

Therefore, the lengths of the trapezoid's bases are AB=4cm AB = 4 \, \text{cm} and DC=8cm DC = 8 \, \text{cm} .

Answer

DC = 8 , AB=4