Trapezoid area

Johulus

New member
Joined
Jan 1, 2015
Messages
42
Using Heron's formula determine the area of the trapezoid ABCD. \(\displaystyle \overline{AB} \) and \(\displaystyle \overline{CD}\) are bases and \(\displaystyle \overline{AD}\) and \(\displaystyle \overline{BC}\) are legs of the trapezoid:
1) \(\displaystyle |AB|=60cm\, |CD|=20cm\, |AD|=13cm\, |BC|=37cm \)

....

So, all sides of the trapezoid are of different length. I don't know where to start from. I guess I have to have a triangle for Heron's formula, but I am not sure where to get a triangle. If I had a diagonal, I would have 2 triangles, but I don't know how to get the length of a diagonal. Nothing comes to my mind really. I would appreciate your help.
 
Using Heron's formula determine the area of the trapezoid ABCD. \(\displaystyle \overline{AB} \) and \(\displaystyle \overline{CD}\) are bases and \(\displaystyle \overline{AD}\) and \(\displaystyle \overline{BC}\) are legs of the trapezoid:
1) \(\displaystyle |AB|=60cm\, |CD|=20cm\, |AD|=13cm\, |BC|=37cm \)

....

So, all sides of the trapezoid are of different length. I don't know where to start from. I guess I have to have a triangle for Heron's formula, but I am not sure where to get a triangle. If I had a diagonal, I would have 2 triangles, but I don't know how to get the length of a diagonal. Nothing comes to my mind really. I would appreciate your help.

How about doing some research?

Go to Google and type in:

"heron trapezoid area"

Tell us what do you find!
 
Top