In an isosceles trapezoid ABCD, AB=CD=5. The top base = 8 and the bottom base = 14. What is the area of this trapezoid?

1 Answer
Alan P.
Dec 26, 2015

Area: #44#

Explanation:

see diagram below:
#color(black)("specified values in black")#;
#color(red)("calculated values in red")#
enter image source here

Extracting a rectangle from the center section of the isosceles trapezoid leaves two right angled triangles with bases of #3# and hypotenuses of #5#
which implies a trapezoid height of #4# (since #3:4:5# is a standard right angled triangle).

Area of trapezoid #= ("base" + "top")/2 xx "height"#

#color(white)("XXXXXXXXX")= (14+8)/2xx4 = 44#

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