How to Do Things

A trapezoid is a mathematical figure with four sides in which two sides are parallel to each other. If a trapezoid has four sides named as ABCD then that trapezoid is represented as a polygon ABCD. You can easily calculate area of a trapezoid using the directions given in this article on how to calculate area of a trapezoid.

Area of trapezoid is given in square units.

Formula for calculating area of a trapezoid is given as,

Area of trapezoid = h (l₁ + l₂)/2

In the above formula,

• “h” is the height of the trapezoid
• “ l₁” is the length of one of the parallel sides of the trapezoid
• “l₂” is the length of another parallel side of the trapezoid

Area of a trapezoid is the average of parallel sides of a trapezoid multiplied by the height of the trapezoid.

Measure the length of both the parallel sides of the trapezoid and also measure the height of the trapezoid. Place the values in the above equation and calculate the area of trapezoid. Measure all the dimensions in compatible units.

The height is the perpendicular height between the parallel sides of the trapezoid. Draw a perpendicular from the side opposite to the base of the trapezoid on the base of the trapezoid. Measure the length of this perpendicular drawn. This is the height of the trapezoid.

If the measured units are not compatible with each other them using the online sources convert them into compatible units and then calculate the area of a trapezoid.

Example:

Suppose the length of one of the parallel side of a trapezoid is 4 cm and the length of another parallel side is 3 cm and the value of perpendicular height between the two parallel sides is 2 cm and you have to calculate the area of a trapezoid.

Substituting the above values in the given formula,

Area of trapezoid = h (l₁ + l₂)/2

= 2 (4 + 3)/2

= 2 (3.5)

= 7 cm²

Therefore, area of a trapezoid is 7 cm².

Practice problems:

• Calculate area of a trapezoid in which the length of one of the parallel side is 2 cm and other side is 6 m and the measure of the height of the trapezoid is 4.4 m.
• Calculate area of a trapezoid in which the length of one of the parallel side is 2.2 cm and the length of another side is 7.5 cm while the height of the trapezoid is 23 mm.

Related Tags: calculating area of trapezoid using side slope, how to determine the area of a trapezoid from one base the height and the slopes of the sides, how to find out slope in trapezoid, how to find the length of one base of a trapezoid if the area is 130, how to find the ratio of a trapezoid if the area is given, how to find the square unit of a trapezoid in slope, how to measure a trapezoid, if not given the height or bases of a trapezoid how do you find them?

Related Content:

1. How to Calculate Area of Parallelogram
2. How to Calculate Area of Hexagon
3. How to Calculate Area of a Rectangle
4. How to Calculate Area of a Triangle
5. How to Calculate Perimeter of a Triangle