Question

The area of a trapezoid is given by the formula A = (b 1 + b 2)h, where base b 1 is parallel to base b 2 and h is the height. Solve the formula for b 2. Show your work.

Answer 1

y = 2h + x

Explanation:

Let x and y represent the different lengths of the legs, instead of b1 and b2.

The average length of the trapezoid is

x + y

---------

2

and so the area is

x + y

--------- * h

2

We are to solve this formula for y (which you have called b 2).

Multiplying both sides by yields x + y = 2h, and so

y = 2h + x