Trapezium Area

A trapezoid is a quadrilateral with exactly 1 pair of parallel sides.

In the Polypad canvas below, create different trapezoids to explore area of trapezoids. Here is an example to get you started:

Are you able to use your examples to create a formula for the area of any trapezoid?

Solution

You may have noticed the area seems to be equal to the height multiplied by half of the sum of parallel sides a and b. Indeed, the general approach for the area of any trapezoid is

$A = 1/2(A+B)*H$.

Try and use some of the visuals below to write up a proof for this formula:

Further Reading

https://www.youcubed.org/tasks/trap-the-zoid/