A trapezoid has an area given by A = (b 1 + b 2)h, where b 1 is the length of one base, b 2 is the length of the other base, and h is the height. If the trapezoid has an area of 14 square units, solve for b 1 in terms of the other variables.

Question

anonymous · Answer

Can you help me?

campbell_st · Answer

so so do the opposite to both sides of the equation... 

and are you sure the A = (b1 + b2)h  is correct?

anonymous · Answer

That is what the question said.

anonymous · Answer

It's supposed to have 1/2 in front of it. So A = 1/2 (b1+b2)h

campbell_st · Answer

ok... thats what I was thinking

ok so you know 

14 = 1/2(b1 + b2)h

so the process is doing the opposite of the right hand side to the left side

what is the opposite of dividing by 2?

anonymous · Answer

Multiplying by 2.

campbell_st · Answer

great that gets rid of the half

so 

28 = (b1 + b2)h

ok so now you need to opposite of multiplying by h

anonymous · Answer

So divide by h which would then make it 28 = b1+b2/h?

campbell_st · Answer

well nearly its 

28/h = b1 + b2

what ever you do... it has to happen on both sides of the equation 

on the right  h/h = 1

ok... last step... the opposite of adding b2..?

anonymous · Answer

subtracting b2. So 28/h - b2 = b1

campbell_st · Answer

thats correct... well done

campbell_st · Answer

or 

b1 = 28/h - b2

both are correct

anonymous · Answer

Thank you!