Question

a section in a stained glass window is shaped like a trapezoid. The top base is 4 centimeters and the bottom base is 2.5 centimeters long. If the area of the section of glass is 3.9 square centimeters, how tall is the section?

Answer 1

Hello, so the equation for the area of a trapezoid is                                      A = (a+b)*(h/2)             

In which, a is one of the bases, b is the other base, and h is the height. A is the Area. If you wanna solve for height, rearrange the equation to what h equals.

First divide (a+b) from both sides
A/(a+b) = h/2 

Now multiply 2 on both sides

2(A/(a+b)) = h

Now you have it rearranged equal to just h. Plug in the values now.

2(3.9/(4+2.5)) = h

2(3.9/(6.5)) = h

2(.6) = h

1.2 = h

The section is 1.2 centimeters tall.