Trapezoids

Definition
A quadrilateral which
has at least 1 pair of
parallel sides
A trapezoid with 1 pair
of congruent sides

Properties of sides

The bases (top and bottom) of an

isosceles trapezoid are parallel.
Opposite sides of an isosceles
trapezoid are congruent.
The angles on either side of the
bases are congruent.

The bases (top and bottom) of a

trapezoid are parallel.
That's it. No sides needs to be
congruent and no angles need to be
congruent.

Properties of angles
Adjacent angles along
the sides are
supplementary.
Base angles of isosceles
trapezoid are
congruent.
Normal trapezoids
dont have any special
properties.

Proof
Given: <a=102 & <d is
adjacent to <a & its an
isosceles trapezoid
<a = 102
<a is congruent to <b

Prove: <d is supp. to <a

Given
Same side interior angles

<a+<b+<c+<d = 360

Angle property of
quadrilateral(1,2)

<c is congruent to <d

Same side interior angles(3)

<d is supp. to <a

Addition property(4)

Median Theorem
for Trapezoids

parallel to each base

and
its length is the average of
the lengths of the bases

EXAMPLE
EF is the median of trapezoid ABCD. Find EF.
22 in.

10 in.

EXAMPLE
BC is the median of trapezoid MATH. Find MA.
A

M
B

15 in.

22 in.

EXAMPLE
BC is the median of trapezoid TRAP. Find TR.
T

B
P

19 in.

11 in.

C
A

Properties of diagonals
The diagonals (not
shown here) are
congruent.

Nothing special
happens with the
diagonals.

Lines of symmetry
A regular trapezoid has no lines of
symmetry
Isosceles trapezoids have only 1
line of symmetry

formulas
Perimeter = a + b + c + B

Area = 1/2h(B+b)
Area of parallelogram (B+b) x h
But, this is double of what we
need... So, multiply by 1/2.

Find the perimeter and area.

1.

perimeter = units
area = units2

2.

perimeter = units
area = units2

Problem

Correct Answer

Your Answer

perimeter =
units
36
area =
752
units

Solution
To find the perimeter, add up all the sides.
Perimeter = 10 + 5 + 11 + 10 = 36
Area of a trapezoid = * height * (base1 + base2)
In this trapezoid, base1 = 5 and base2 = 10.
Area = * 10 * (5 + 10) = 75

Problem

Correct Answer

Your Answer

perimeter
= 26 units
area
= 36 units2

Solution
To find the perimeter, add up all the sides.
Perimeter = 8 + 3 + 6 + 3 + 6 = 26
Area of a trapezoid = * height * (base1 + base2)
In this trapezoid, base1 = 3 and base2 = 3 + 6.
Area = * 6 * (3 + 3 + 6) = 36

Other facts
Altitude: The altitude of a trapezoid is the
perpendicular distance from one base to the
other. (One base may need to be extended).
Median: The median of a trapezoid is a line
joining the midpoints of the two legs.

The MEDIAN connects the

midpoints of the legs

Connection to coordinate
geometry
Trapezoid and its properties. (Coordinat
e Geometry)
Trapezoid area and perimeter. (Coordina
te Geometry)

Find x.

If the perimeter is 42, then what is x?

x = units

1.
If the area is 84 units2, then what is x?
x = units

2.
If the area is 48 units2, then what is x?
x = units

If the
perimeter is
42, then what
isx?

x = 6 units

Solution
The perimeter is the sum of all the sides.
So x = perimeter - all known sides
x = 42 - 20 - 10 - 6
x=6
If the area is
84 units2, then
what is x?

x= 6

units

Solution
Area of a trapezoid = * height * (base1 + base2)
base2 = 4 + 9 + x
84 = * 6 * (9 + 4 + 9 + x)
x=6
If the area is
48 units2, then
what isx?

x =6 units

Solution
Area of a trapezoid = * height * (base1 + base2)
48 = * x * (6 + 10)
x=6

Trapezoids
*They have only one pair of opposite
sides that are parallel
base

leg

leg
base

If the legs are congruent then the trapezoid is

ISOSCELES

If a trapezoid is isosceles then each pair

of base angles is congruent

If a trapezoid is isosceles then its

diagonals are congruent

EXAMPLE
Find the missing angle measures in trapezoid
MATH.
M

60
H