Question

Difficulty: EasyArea of Two-Dimensional Shapes

A trapezoid has parallel bases of length 66 centimeters and 1010 centimeters, and a height of 55 centimeters. What is the area, in square centimeters, of the trapezoid?

Answer: 40 square centimeters

Answer

The area of the trapezoid is 4040 square centimeters.
The area of a trapezoid is calculated using the formula A=a+b2hA = \frac{a + b}{2} h, where aa and bb are the lengths of the parallel bases and hh is the height. Substituting the given values a=6a = 6, b=10b = 10, and h=5h = 5 into the formula yields A=6+102×5=8×5=40A = \frac{6 + 10}{2} \times 5 = 8 \times 5 = 40.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Recall the area formula for a trapezoid.
A=a+b2hA = \frac{a + b}{2}h
The area of a trapezoid is the average of its parallel bases multiplied by its height.
2
Substitute the base values of 66 and 1010, and the height value of 55 into the formula.
A=6+102×5A = \frac{6 + 10}{2} \times 5
This sets up the calculation with the given measurements.
3
Simplify the expression to find the final area.
A=40A = 40
Adding the bases gives 1616, dividing by 22 gives 88, and multiplying by the height of 55 results in 4040.

Key Concept

Area of a Trapezoid
Estimated Time:45s
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