The formula for the area of a trapezoid is given by:
Area = (1/2) x (b1 + b2) x h
In this formula, b1 and b2 represent the lengths of the two parallel sides of the trapezoid, and h is the height (the perpendicular distance) between these two sides.
To understand why this formula works, think of a trapezoid as a shape that can be roughly converted into a rectangle by extending the two non-parallel sides until they meet. The average of the lengths of the two parallel sides gives you a base that you’d use to calculate an equivalent rectangle’s area. By multiplying this average length by the height, you essentially find the area of the trapezoid.