Question

if the area of a trapezoid is 234 square units what is the value of x
base 1 - 32
base 2- 20

Answer 1

The area of a trapezoid is given by the product of the height and the average of the baes.\[\Large\bf\sf A=\frac{1}{2}(b_1+b_2)\cdot h\]
For our problem they gave us everything except the height,\[\Large\bf\sf 234=\frac{1}{2}(32+20)\cdot x\]And we want to solve for the height, x.
Does this setup make sense so far?

Answer 2

would i just add 32+20=52 and divide it and get 26 and that is my height?

Answer 3

\[\Large\bf\sf 234=\color{royalblue}{\frac{1}{2}(32+20)}\cdot x\]\[\Large\bf\sf 234=\color{royalblue}{26}\cdot x\]So you simplified that part,
No, the 26 is not the height.
x is the height.

How do we solve for x?
We want to isolate the x ( get it alone by itself ).

Answer 4

subtract 26 on each side so it would be 208=x

Answer 5

Woops, it looks like the 26 is `multiplying` our x.
So in order to move it to the other side, we need to perform the inverse operation of multiplication.

Answer 6

ahh i totally missed that so we would divide 234 by 26?

Answer 7

Mmm yes good! :)

Answer 8

so x=9?

Answer 9

Yay good job.

Answer 10

that then would be units right?

Answer 11

Correct.
The area is given in `squared units`.
The height will be in `units`.