Math, I'm stuck

Question

Find the area of the polygon with vertices A (-4,-1), B (-4 ,3), C (2, 4), D (2, -1)

 

A=

Answer 1

This problem is much easier to solve if you draw a picture (use graph paper!)

When you do you will easily be able to identify this figure as trapezoid with bases 5 and 4 and altitude (height) 6.

Then the area is (h/2)(b₁ + b₂) = (6/2)(5 + 4)  = 27