Calculate the area of the trapezoid in the diagram.
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Calculate the area of the trapezoid in the diagram.
To determine the area of the trapezoid, we will use the formula for the area of a trapezoid:
From the problem, the two bases are and . The height is .
Substituting into the formula, we have:
Simplifying the expression inside the parenthesis gives:
Distributing through the terms inside the parenthesis gives:
Continuing the simplification:
Which simplifies to:
Therefore, the area of the trapezoid is cm².
Through comparison, this expression matches the given choice: cm², which corresponds to choice .
Thus, the correct area of the trapezoid is cm².
cm².
Calculate the area of the trapezoid.
The bases are the parallel sides. In this diagram, 2X and 3Y are labeled on the top and bottom horizontal lines, making them parallel. The height X is the perpendicular distance between them.
You must distribute correctly! When you multiply (2X + 3Y) × X, you get 2X² + 3XY. Then multiply by ½ to get X² + 1.5XY, not just 1.5XY.
The 1.5 comes from ½ × 3 = 1.5. When distributing ½(3XY), you get 1.5XY. This shows how the trapezoid formula affects each term differently.
Both 1.5XY and ³⁄₂XY are correct! In this context, 1.5 is clearer and matches the multiple choice format, but fractions work too.
Check the diagram carefully! The height is always perpendicular to the bases. Here, X is clearly marked as the vertical height, while 2X and 3Y are the horizontal parallel bases.
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