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The height of a trapezoid is 6 in. and its area is 72 inches squared. One base of the trapezoid is 6 inches longer than the other base. What are the LENGTHS of the bases?

User Albarji
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1 Answer

6 votes

Answer:

9 and 15 inches

Explanation:

The unknown lengths can be found by making use of the formula for the area of a trapezoid.

__

Let x represent the shorter base. Then the longer one is (x+6), and the area is ...

A = 1/2(b1 +b2)h . . . . area of a trapezoid with bases b1, b2, and height h

72 = 1/2(x +(x+6))(6)

24 = 2x +6 . . . . . . . . . simplify, divide by 3

18 = 2x . . . . . . . . . subtract 6

9 = x . . . . . . divide by 2

15 = x+6 . . . . . . the length of the longer base

The bases are 9 inches and 15 inches in length.

User Nathali
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