Trapezoid Calculator
Area
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Perimeter (isosceles)
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Median
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Trapezoid Area and Properties
A = (a+b)/2 x h. Average of parallel sides times height. Median = (a+b)/2.
For isosceles: legs = sqrt(((b-a)/2)^2 + h^2). Both legs are equal.
Trapezoids appear in architecture, engineering (channel cross-sections), and the trapezoidal rule in calculus.
Frequently Asked Questions
Trapezoid area formula?
A = (a+b)/2 x h. Average of parallel sides times perpendicular height.
Is a parallelogram a trapezoid?
By inclusive definition yes. By exclusive definition, trapezoid has exactly one pair of parallel sides.
What is the median?
Midsegment connecting midpoints of legs. Length = (a+b)/2. Parallel to both bases.
Find height from area?
h = 2A/(a+b). Twice the area divided by sum of parallel sides.