12+Trapezoids

Trapezoids A trapezoid is a quadrilateral with one set of parallel sides. These two parallel lines are called the bases. The remaining lines, the non-parallel sides are called legs. Another type of recognizable quadrilateral is an isosceles trapezoid. This type is a trapezoid with two congruent sides. Both a regular trapezoid and an isosceles trapezoid are equipped with an altitude and a median. The median of a trapezoid is a line joining the midpoints of the two legs and is parallel to both bases. The length of it is equal to the average of the bases. While the altitude is the perpendicular distance from one base to another. Remember, a trapezoid is not a parallelogram because only one pair of sides is parallel.

Summary: A trapezoid is a quadrilateral with one set of parallel sides. These two parallel lines are called the bases. The remaining lines, the non-parallel sides are called legs. Another type of recognizable quadrilateral is an isosceles trapezoid. This type is a trapezoid with two congruent sides. Both a regular trapezoid and an isosceles trapezoid are equipped with an altitude and a median. The median of a trapezoid is a line joining the midpoints of the two legs and is parallel to both bases. The length of it is equal to the average of the bases.While the altitude is the perpendicular distance from one base to another. Remember, a trapezoid is not a parallelogram because only one pair of sides is parallel.

Formula's: Area = 1/2 x (base 1 + base 2) x h Perimeter = leg 1 +leg 2 + base 1 +base 2

** Helpful Websites: ** http://www.mathwarehouse.com/geometry/quadrilaterals/trapezoid.php http://www.mathwarehouse.com/geometry/quadrilaterals/isosceles-trapezoid.php http://www.coolmath.com/reference/trapezoids.html http://regentsprep.org/Regents/math/geometry/GP9/LTrapezoid.htm


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