Area of a Trapezoid

In this section we are going to find the area of a trapezoid. First of all, let us define what a trapezoid is.

What is a trapezoid?

A trapezoid (or a trapezium as they are known in Britain), by definition, has four sides with two of its sides parallel to each other. As seen in this yellow trapezoid, the two sides, a and b are parrallel to each other.

So, any geometrical object with four sides are trapezoids if two sides are parallel to each other. Now, let's calculate the area of a trapezoid.

How to calculate the area of a trapezoid?

For any trapezoid, there is a height which is the distance between the two parallel sides, in this case a and b. The height is marked 'h' in the yellow trapezoid.

To calculate the area of any trapezoid, all you need to know is the length of the two parallel sides and the distance between them. In another word, you need to know a, b, and h.

Once you have those three, the formula for calculating the area of a trapezoid is: ½ x h x (a +b)

So, now you can calculate the area of any trapezoid. Just measure the length of the two parallel sides and the distance between them, put the three numbers in the equation and you have the area of the trapezoid!