Question: Find the area of this trapezoid. Be sure to include the correct unit in your answer. 5 ft 15 ft 12…

Find the area of this trapezoid. Be sure to include the correct unit in your answer. 5 ft 15 ft 12 ft 14 ft

Solution

To find the area of a trapezoid, we use the formula: \[ A = \frac{1}{2} \times (b_1 + b_2) \times h \] where \(b_1\) and \(b_2\) are the lengths of the two parallel bases, and \(h\) is the height. Identify the values from the trapezoid: \(b_1 = 14 \, \text{ft}\) \(b_2 = 5 \, \text{ft}\) \(h = 12 \, \text{ft}\) Plug these values into the formula: \[ A = \frac{1}{2} \times (14 + 5) \times 12 \] Calculate the sum of the bases: \[ A = \frac{1}{2} \times 19 \times 12 \] Multiply: \[ A = \frac{1}{2} \times 228 \] Divide by 2: \[ A = 114 \, \text{square feet} \] Thus, the area of the trapezoid is 114 square feet.