Question

The area of a trapezium-shaped field is 480 m², the distance between two parallel sides is 15 m and one of the parallel sides is 20 m. Find the other parallel side.

Answer 1

One of the parallel sides of the trapezium is a = 20 m, let another parallel side be b, height h = 15 m.

The given area of trapezium = 480 m².

Area of a trapezium = `1/2` h(a + b)

So, 480 = `1/2` × 15 × (20 + b)
or `(480 xx 2)/15 = 20 + b`

or 64 = 20 + b

or b = 44 m. 

Hence the other parallel side of the trapezium is 44 m.