Question

On a boat, a cabin's window is in the shape of an isosceles trapezoid, as shown below. What is the area of the window?

An isosceles trapezoid with top side 10 inches long and a longer bottom side. The height is 14 inches. The base of the triangle formed from the height on the right is labeled 4 inches.

196 square inches
240 square inches
252 square inches
392 square inches @PlanSlam
@PaxPolaris

Answer 1

Is this what you mean?

Answer 2

@math&ing001

Answer 3

@mathstudent55

Answer 4

Ok, got it.
My drawing is correct.

Answer 5

The formula for the area of a trapezoid is:
\(A = \dfrac{(B + b)h}{2}\)
where B = length of one base; b = length of the other base; h = height.

Answer 6

We know the length of one base (the shorter one on top) and the height. We need to find the length of the longer base.

Answer 7

Since the trapezoid is isosceles, the triangles at both sides are congruent, so the 4 in. piece on the right is congruent to the corresponding piece on the left.

Answer 8

Can you tell the length of the bottom base now?

Answer 9

18 @mathstudent55

Answer 10

@PlanSlam

Answer 11

Correct.
Now all you need to do is plug in the lengths of the bases and the height into the formula and find the area.