Final answer:
The area formula for a trapezoid can also be used to calculate the area of a rectangle with the same base lengths and height.
Step-by-step explanation:
To illustrate that the formula for the area of a trapezoid can be applied to a rectangle, we need to compare the two shapes. A trapezoid has a unique formula for finding its area, which is A = 0.5 * (b1 + b2) * h, where b1 and b2 are the two bases of the trapezoid and h is its height. On the other hand, a rectangle has a simpler formula for finding its area, which is A = l * w, where l is the length and w is the width of the rectangle.
Now, let's consider a rectangle that has the same base lengths as a trapezoid and the same height. In this case, b1 and b2 of the trapezoid would be equal, making it a rectangle. Therefore, when we calculate the area of this trapezoid using the trapezoid formula, we would get the same result as when we calculate the area of the rectangle using the rectangle formula.