SOLUTION: The lengths of the bases of an isosceles trapezoid are 6 centimeters and 12 centimeters. If the length of each leg is 5 centimeters, what is the area of the trapezoid?

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Question 481978: The lengths of the bases of an isosceles trapezoid are 6 centimeters and 12 centimeters. If the length of each leg is
5 centimeters, what is the area of the trapezoid?
Found 2 solutions by cleomenius, MathTherapy:
Answer by cleomenius(959) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Area = 1/2 (b1 + b2)h
Area = 1/2( 6 + 12) * 5
Area = 45 cm^2
Cleomenius.

Answer by MathTherapy(10551) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!

Since one of the legs of the trapezoid is 5 cm, then the h (height) = 4, since a 3-4-5 right triangle would be formed by a segment of the longer base, the height, and one of the legs.

Formula for the area of an isosceles trapezoid = %28h%2A%28b%5B1%5D+%2B+b%5B2%5D%29%29%2F2, with bases being b%5B1%5D and b%5B2%5D and height "h"

Since h (h) height = 4 cm, and bases, b%5B1%5D and b%5B2%5D being 6 and 12 cm, we get:

Area = 4%2A%286+%2B+12%29%2F%282%29 ------ %284+%2A+18%29%2F2 = 72%2F2 = highlight_green%2836cm%5E3%29