Isosceles Trapezoid - Area

Area

The area of an isosceles (or any) trapezoid is equal to the average of the lengths of the base and top (the parallel sides) times the height. In the diagram to the right, if we write AD = a, and BC = b, and the height h is the length of a line segment between AD and BC that is perpendicular to them, then the area K is given as follows:

If instead of the height of the trapezoid, the length of the leg AB = c is known, then the area can be computed using the formula

,

where is the semiperimeter of the trapezoid. This formula is analogous to Heron's formula to compute the area of a triangle. The previous formula for area can also be written as

Read more about this topic:  Isosceles Trapezoid

Famous quotes containing the word area:

    Self-esteem is the real magic wand that can form a child’s future. A child’s self-esteem affects every area of her existence, from friends she chooses, to how well she does academically in school, to what kind of job she gets, to even the person she chooses to marry.
    Stephanie Martson (20th century)

    I am aware of the damp souls of housemaids
    Sprouting despondently at area gates.
    —T.S. (Thomas Stearns)

    Many women are reluctant to allow men to enter their domain. They don’t want men to acquire skills in what has traditionally been their area of competence and one of their main sources of self-esteem. So while they complain about the male’s unwillingness to share in domestic duties, they continually push the male out when he moves too confidently into what has previously been their exclusive world.
    Bettina Arndt (20th century)