Question

I don't how to find the area of the trapezoid

Answer 1

Recall that the area of a trapezoid is determined by the equation

`\begin{gathered} A=(a+b)/(2)\cdot h \\ \text{where} \\ a\text{ and }b\text{ are the bases} \\ h\text{ is the height} \end{gathered}`

The area of the glass panel therefore should be the area of the trapezoid, minus the two area of the rectangle that has been cutout.

Given that

a = 28 1/4 inches

b = 16 1/4 inches

h = 8 inches

Area of rectangle = 12 3/8 square inches

Then the area of the glass panel is

`\begin{gathered} A=((a+b)/(2)\cdot h)-2\cdot12(3)/(8) \\ A=((28(1)/(4)+16(1)/(4))/(2)\cdot8)-24(3)/(4) \\ A=(44(2)/(4)\cdot4)-24(3)/(4) \\ A=178-24(3)/(4) \\ A=153(1)/(4) \end{gathered}`

Therefore, the area of the glass panel is 153 1/4 square inches.