Calculate Trapezoid Area: Finding Space Between 7 and 15 Unit Parallel Sides

The bases are the two parallel sides (here 7 and 15 units). The height is the perpendicular distance between them (here 2 units). Look for the right angle symbol to identify the height!

Think of it as finding the average of the two bases, then multiplying by height. $\frac{7+15}{2} = 11$ (average base) × 2 (height) = 22. This gives the same result as our formula!

It doesn't matter which way the trapezoid is oriented! The formula works the same way. Just identify the two parallel sides as your bases and the perpendicular distance as height.

Yes! A rectangle is just a special trapezoid where both bases are equal. If bases are 5 and 5, then $\frac{(5+5) \times h}{2} = \frac{10h}{2} = 5h$, which is length × width!

Check if your area is between what you'd get for triangles and rectangles with the same dimensions. Here: triangle area would be $\frac{15 \times 2}{2} = 15$, rectangle would be $15 \times 2 = 30$. Our answer 22 fits perfectly between them!