Exploring the Area of Trapezoids with Triangles

What are the two parallel sides of a trapezoid called?

• Diagonals

• Legs

• Altitudes

• Bases

How is the height of a trapezoid defined?

• Perpendicular distance from a vertex to the base

• Distance between the bases

• Length of the base

• Distance between any two points

What is the first step in calculating the area of a trapezoid?

• Measure the diagonals

• Multiply the bases

• Divide into two triangles

• Add the bases

What formula is used to calculate the area of each triangle in a trapezoid?

• Base times half height

• Half base times height

• Base plus height

• Base times height

If one base of the trapezoid is 6 units and the height is also 6 units, what is the area of the triangle formed?

• 18 square units

• 12 square units

• 36 square units

• 24 square units

What is the area of a triangle with a base of 7 units and height of 6 units?

• 28 square units

• 12 square units

• 42 square units

• 21 square units

How do you find the total area of a trapezoid?

• Add the areas of the triangles

• Subtract the areas of the triangles

• Add the areas of the bases

• Multiply the areas of the triangles

What is the total area of a trapezoid with triangle areas of 18 and 21 square units?

• 39 square units

• 40 square units

• 34 square units

• 36 square units