Trapezoid Area Problem: Find Missing Base Length Given Area 67 cm²

Trapezoid Area with Missing Base Length

Given that the area of the trapezoid ABCD is 67 cm².

The height of the trapezoid is 8 cm.

The length of one of the bases is 12cm

What is the length of the other base?

S=67S=67S=67121212888AAABBBCCCDDD

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Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations
00:00 Calculate the length of base AB
00:03 We'll use the formula for calculating trapezoid area
00:09 (Sum of bases) multiplied by height) divided by 2
00:17 We'll substitute appropriate values according to the given data and solve for AB
00:49 Isolate AB
01:16 And this is the solution to the problem

Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution
1

Understand the problem

Given that the area of the trapezoid ABCD is 67 cm².

The height of the trapezoid is 8 cm.

The length of one of the bases is 12cm

What is the length of the other base?

S=67S=67S=67121212888AAABBBCCCDDD

2

Step-by-step solution

The problem involves finding the missing base of a trapezoid using its area. Let's solve it step by step:

  • The formula for the area of a trapezoid is:

    A=12×(b1+b2)×h A = \frac{1}{2} \times (b_1 + b_2) \times h
  • We're given:

    - A=67 cm2 A = 67 \text{ cm}^2
    - h=8 cm h = 8 \text{ cm}
    - b1=12 cm b_1 = 12 \text{ cm}
  • Substitute the known values into the formula:

    67=12×(12+b2)×8 67 = \frac{1}{2} \times (12 + b_2) \times 8
  • First, simplify the equation:

    67=4×(12+b2) 67 = 4 \times (12 + b_2)
  • Divide both sides by 4 to isolate the sum of the bases:

    16.75=12+b2 16.75 = 12 + b_2
  • Solve for b2 b_2 :

    b2=16.7512 b_2 = 16.75 - 12 b2=4.75 cm b_2 = 4.75 \text{ cm}

Thus, the length of the other base is 4.75 cm 4.75 \text{ cm} .

3

Final Answer

4.75

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic
  • Formula: Area = ½ × (base₁ + base₂) × height for trapezoids
  • Technique: Substitute known values: 67 = ½ × (12 + b₂) × 8
  • Check: Verify: ½ × (12 + 4.75) × 8 = 67 ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors
  • Forgetting to divide by 2 in the trapezoid area formula
    Don't use Area = (base₁ + base₂) × height = 134! This gives double the actual area because you forgot the ½ factor. Always remember trapezoid area uses ½ × (sum of bases) × height.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

Given the following trapezoid:

AAABBBCCCDDD584

Calculate the area of the trapezoid ABCD.

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why does the trapezoid formula have ½ in it?

+

The ½ factor comes from finding the average of the two parallel bases! Think of it as average base length × height, which gives you the area.

What if my answer comes out as a decimal like 4.75?

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Decimal answers are perfectly normal for geometry problems! 4.75 cm means 4¾ cm, which is a valid measurement. Always check that decimals make sense in context.

How do I know which sides are the bases in a trapezoid?

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The bases are the parallel sides - the top and bottom of the trapezoid. The height is always perpendicular to these parallel sides.

Can I solve this problem in a different order?

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Yes! You can rearrange the formula to b2=2Ahb1 b_2 = \frac{2A}{h} - b_1 . This gives you: b2=2(67)812=16.7512=4.75 b_2 = \frac{2(67)}{8} - 12 = 16.75 - 12 = 4.75

What if I accidentally switch the bases?

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It doesn't matter which base you call base₁ or base₂! Addition is commutative, so 12 + 4.75 = 4.75 + 12. The answer will be the same.

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