The area of a trapezoid is 60 square feet. If the bases of the trapezoid are 8 feet and 12 feet, what is the height?

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Answer 1 · 2017-01-04T02:09:53

The height is 6 feet.

The formula for the area of a trapezoid is

$A=((b_1+b_2)h)/2$

where $b_1 and b_2$ are the bases and $h$ is the height.

In the problem, the following information is given:

$A=60 ft^2$ , $b_1=8ft$ , $b_2=12ft$

Substituting these values into the formula gives...

$60=((8+12)h)/2$

Multiply both sides by $2$ .

$2 * 60=((8+12)h)/2 *2$

$120=((20)h)/cancel2 * cancel2$

$120=20h$

Divide both sides by $20$

$120/20=(20h)/20$

$6=h$

$h=6ft$