Question 970248
A right triangle is formed with the third side as hypotenuse(=5cm), the difference between the two bases as one leg(a=6cm-3cm=3cm) And the height of the trapezoid as the other leg (b):
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{{{a^2+b^2=c^2}}}
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{{{b=sqrt(c^2-a^2)}}}
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{{{b=sqrt((5cm)^2-(3cm)^2)}}}
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{{{b=sqrt(25cm^2-9cm^2)}}}
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{{{b=sqrt(16cm^2)}}}
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{{{b=4cm}}} The height of the trapezoid is 4 centimeters.
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Area of trapezoid:
y=longer base; x=shorter base; h=height; A=area
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{{{A=((x+y)/2)h}}}
{{{A=((3cm+6cm)/2)4cm}}}
{{{A=(9cm/2)(4cm)}}}
{{{A=(4.5cm)(4cm)}}}
{{{A=18cm^2}}}
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ANSWER: The area of the trapezoid is 18 square centimeters.