Calculate Trapezoid Perimeter: Shape with Sides 10, 11, and 5 Units

Q: Do I need to use any special trapezoid formulas?

No! For perimeter, just add all the side lengths together. Special trapezoid formulas are only needed for area calculations, not perimeter.

Q: What if the trapezoid sides aren't labeled clearly?

Look carefully at the diagram and match each colored line with its corresponding number. In this problem, each side has a different color to help you identify the lengths.

Q: Why are there two sides with length 10?

Trapezoids can have equal side lengths! The two sides of length 10 are the top parallel side and the left non-parallel side. They just happen to be the same length.

Q: How do I know which sides are parallel in a trapezoid?

In this diagram, the horizontal sides (top and bottom) are parallel. The parallel sides are 10 units and 5 units, while the non-parallel sides are 10 units and 11 units.

Q: Can I add the sides in any order?

Yes! Addition is commutative, so $ 10 + 5 + 10 + 11 $ gives the same result as $ 5 + 10 + 11 + 10 $ or any other order.

Trapezoid Perimeter with Four Given Sides

Calculate the perimeter of the trapezoid below:

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Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution

Understand the problem

Calculate the perimeter of the trapezoid below:

Step-by-step solution

To solve this problem, we'll calculate the perimeter of the trapezoid by summing the lengths of its sides:

Step 1: Identify the side lengths of the trapezoid:
Top side $= 10$ , Bottom side $= 5$ , Left side $= 10$ , Right side $= 11$ .
Step 2: Apply the perimeter formula:
The formula for the perimeter $P$ of a trapezoid is $P = a + b + c + d$ .
Step 3: Perform the calculations:
Substitute the given lengths into the formula:
$P = 10 + 5 + 10 + 11 = 36$ .

Therefore, the perimeter of the trapezoid is $36$ .

Final Answer

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic

Formula: Add all four sides of the trapezoid together
Technique: $P = 10 + 5 + 10 + 11 = 36$ units
Check: Count each labeled side exactly once in diagram ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors

Forgetting to include all four sides
Don't just add the parallel sides (10 + 5 = 15) = incomplete perimeter! Perimeter means the distance around the entire shape. Always include all four sides: both parallel sides AND both non-parallel sides.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

Given the trapezoid:

What is the area?

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Do I need to use any special trapezoid formulas?

No! For perimeter, just add all the side lengths together. Special trapezoid formulas are only needed for area calculations, not perimeter.

What if the trapezoid sides aren't labeled clearly?

Look carefully at the diagram and match each colored line with its corresponding number. In this problem, each side has a different color to help you identify the lengths.

Why are there two sides with length 10?

Trapezoids can have equal side lengths! The two sides of length 10 are the top parallel side and the left non-parallel side. They just happen to be the same length.

How do I know which sides are parallel in a trapezoid?

In this diagram, the horizontal sides (top and bottom) are parallel. The parallel sides are 10 units and 5 units, while the non-parallel sides are 10 units and 11 units.

Can I add the sides in any order?

Yes! Addition is commutative, so $10 + 5 + 10 + 11$ gives the same result as $5 + 10 + 11 + 10$ or any other order.

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