SOLUTION: The area of a trapezoid is 465ft what is its top base if the altitude is 28ft and the bottom base is 20ft. please solve it step by step.

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Question 174346: The area of a trapezoid is 465ft what is its top base if the altitude is 28ft and the bottom base is 20ft. please solve it step by step.
Answer by nerdybill(6958) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
If a and b are the lengths of the two parallel bases of a trapezoid, and h is its height, the area of the trapezoid is
area = 1/2 × h × (a + b)
.
plugging in what we know:
465 = 1/2 × 28 × (a + 20)
solving for 'a' -- the 'top of the trapezoid'
.
465 = 1/2 × 28 × (a + 20)
465 = 14 × (a + 20)
465/14 = (a + 20)
465/14 - 20 = a
33.214 - 20 = a
13.214 feet = a