jmc

Question

What is the number of square units in the area of trapezoid ABCD with vertices A(0,0), B(0,-2), C(4,0), and D(4,6)?

Accepted Answer

Plot the plots and observe that the bases of the trapezoid are

A B

and

C D

. The area of the trapezoid is the average of the lengths of the bases times the height:

\frac{1}{2} (A B + C D) (A C) = \frac{1}{2} (2 + 6) (4) = 16

square units.