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
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