Area of Triangles and Trapezoids

Warm Up
Evaluate.
1
1. 2 ·6·8 24
1
2. 2
· 5.4 · 7.2 19.44
3. 4(7 + 10) 68
4. 3.5(12 + 8.2) 70.7

Course 2
 Area of Triangles and Trapezoids

Problem of the Day

4 in.
1.5 in.
7 in.

An isosceles trapezoid has bases of 7 in. and 4 in.

and height 1.5 in. Find its area by using only the
formula for the area of a parallelogram.
(5.5)(1.5) = 8.25 in2

Course 2
 Areaof
Area ofTriangles
Trianglesand
andTrapezoids
Trapezoids

Learn to find the area of triangles and

trapezoids.

Course 2
 Area of Triangles and Trapezoids

AF 3.1 Use variables in

expressions describing
geometric quantities.

-Objective:Students will use variables in

expressions describing geometric quantities
for Areas of triangles and trapezoids by
using equation formulas and scoring an 80%
proficiency on an exit slip.

Course 2
 Area of Triangles and Trapezoids

A diagonal of a parallelogram divides the

parallelogram into two congruent triangles. So the
area of each triangle is half the area of the
parallelogram.

Height
Height

Base Base

The base of a triangle can be any side. The height of

a triangle is the perpendicular distance from the
base to the opposite vertex.
Course 2
 Area of Triangles and Trapezoids

AREA OF A TRIANGLE

The area A of a triangle

is half the product of its A = 1 bh h
2
base b and its height h.
b

Course 2
 Areas of Triangles and Trapezoids
Additional Example 1A: Finding the Area of a
Triangle

Find the area of the triangle.

A.
A = 1 bh Use the formula.
2
5
A = 1 (8 · 5) Substitute 8 for b and
8 2 5 for h.
A = 20

The area of the triangle is 20 square units.

Course 2
 Area of Triangles and Trapezoids

Additional Example 1B: Finding the area of a Triangle

Find the area of the triangle.

B.
A = 1 bh Use the formula.
2
12
A =1 (9 · 12) Substitute 9 for b and
2 12 for h.
9
A = 54

The area of the triangle is 54

square units.

Course 2
 Areas of Triangles and Trapezoids

Try This: Example 1A

Find the area of the triangle.

A.
A = 1 bh Use the formula.
2
9 A = 1 (6 · 9) Substitute 6 for b and
2 9 for h.
6 A = 27

The area of the triangle is 27 square units.

Course 2
 Areas of Triangles and Trapezoids

Try This: Example 1B

Find the area of the triangle.

B.
A = 1 bh Use the formula.
2
10 A = 1 (7 · 10) Substitute 7 for b and
2 10 for h.
A = 35
7

The area of the triangle is 35 square units.

Course 2
 Area of Triangles and Trapezoids

A parallelogram can be divided into two

congruent trapezoids. The area of each trapezoid
is one-half the area of the parallelogram.

1 (base of
Area of a trapezoid =
2
parallelogram)(height).

Course 2
 Area of Triangles and Trapezoids

The two parallel sides of a trapezoid are its bases.

If we call the longer side b1 and the shorter side b2,
then the base of the parallelogram is b1 + b2.

Area of a trapezoid = 1 (base 1 +

2
base 2)(height).

Course 2
 Area of Triangles and Trapezoids

AREA OF A TRAPEZOID

The area of a trapezoid b2

is half its height A = 1 h(b1 + b2)
multiplied by the sum of 2 h
its two bases. b1

Course 2
 Areas of Triangles and Trapezoids
Additional Example 2A: Finding the Area of a
Trapezoid
Find the area of the trapezoid.

A. 5 in. A = 1 h(b1 + b2) Use the formula.

2
6 in. A = 1 · 6(5 + 9) Substitute.
2
A = 1 · 6(14) Add.
9 in. 2 84
A = 42 Multiply.

The area of the trapezoid is 42 in2.

Course 2
 Areas of Triangles and Trapezoids
Additional Example 2B: Finding the Area of a
Trapezoid
Find the area of the trapezoid.

B.
12 cm A = 1 h(b1 + b2) Use the formula.
2
7 cm A = 1 · 7(12 + 16) Substitute.
2
16 cm A = 1 · 7(28) Add.
2
196
A = 98 Multiply.

The area of the trapezoid is 98 cm2.

Course 2
 Areas of Triangles and Trapezoids

Try This: Example 2A

Find the area of the trapezoid.

A.
A = 1 h(b1 + b2) Use the formula.
2
A = 1 · 6(11 + 4) Substitute.
11 in. 4 in. 2
6 in.
A = 1 · 6(15) Add.
2 90
A = 45 Multiply.

The area of the trapezoid is 45 in2.

Course 2
 Areas of Triangles and Trapezoids

Try This: Example 2B

Find the area of the trapezoid.

B.
A = 1 h(b1 + b2) Use the formula.
16 cm 2
A = 1 · 9(5 + 16) Substitute.
9 cm 2
5 cm A = 1 · 9(21) Add.
2
189
A = 94.5 Multiply.

The area of the trapezoid is 94.5 cm2.

Course 2
 Area of Triangles Exploration Activity

Cut out the pieces of the rectangle and the dotted rectangle
and glue each piece on your notebook.
Use the ruler to find the sides of the rectangle and triangles in inches.
nd the Length and Width of the Rectangles and the Base and Height of
ch triangle)

Once you have all the measurements, find the AREA for each shape!

Use : A = L X W Use: 1 (Base x Height)

2
 Area
Insert
ofLesson
Triangles
Title
and
Here
Trapezoids
Lesson Exit Slip
Find the area of each figure.

1. 2. 9 in2
45 ft2 3 in.
9 ft

10 ft 6 in.

8 ft 10 ft
3. 4. 87.5 ft2
6 ft 60 ft2 7 ft

12 ft 15 ft

4. What is the height of a triangle with area

36 cm2 and a base 9 cm? 8 cm

Course 2