Trapezoid Area Formula With Examples
Study clear, step-by-step walkthroughs solving for area, height, and bases across different scenarios.
Find the area of a trapezoid with bases 6 cm and 10 cm, and height 4 cm.
Given: a = 6 cm, b = 10 cm, h = 4 cm
Formula: A = ½ × (a + b) × h
Step 1: Sum the bases: 6 + 10 = 16 cm
Step 2: Half the sum: 16 ÷ 2 = 8 cm
Step 3: Multiply by height: 8 × 4 = 32 cm²
Calculate the area when base a = 2.5 m, base b = 4.5 m, and height = 120 cm.
Step 1: Convert all dimensions to meters: h = 120 cm = 1.2 m
Step 2: Substitute values: A = ½ × (2.5 + 4.5) × 1.2
Step 3: Add bases: 2.5 + 4.5 = 7.0 m
Step 4: Calculate final area: A = 0.5 × 7.0 × 1.2 = 4.2 m² (or 42,000 cm²)
The area of a trapezoid is 70.55 sq ft. If base a = 8.2 ft and base b = 12.4 ft, what is its height?
Given: Area = 70.55 ft², a = 8.2 ft, b = 12.4 ft
Formula Rearrangement: h = (2 × Area) / (a + b)
Step 1: Double the area: 2 × 70.55 = 141.1
Step 2: Sum the bases: 8.2 + 12.4 = 20.6 ft
Step 3: Divide: h = 141.1 ÷ 20.6 = 6.85 ft
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Specialized Trapezoid Calculators
Compute area, perimeter, and missing dimensions for any trapezoid configuration or real-world application.