Area Of Trapezoids

Question

Which measure do you use to find both the area of the triangle and the area of the rectangle?

Answer 1

Let's use consistent terms:

Area of triangle: (1/2)*base*height

Area of rectangle: base*height

Area of trapezoid: (average of bases)*(height) = (1/2) (base1 + base2)*(height)

The height is used in all. The base, the average of the bases, or (1/2) the base is used for each of these.

Answer 2

Area of rectangle = length * width

Area of a triangle = (1/2) base * altitude

Area of a trapezoid = (1/2) * altitude * sum of the bases