Trapezoid Area and Midsegment

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Trapezoid Area and Midsegment

Trapezoid Area and Midsegment
\[\begin{aligned} A &= \frac{(b_1+b_2)h}{2} \\ m &= \frac{b_1+b_2}{2} \end{aligned}\]

Variables

A = area
m = midsegment length
b1 = lower base
b2 = upper base
h = height

Description

What is this formula?

This set of formulas calculates the area and midsegment length of a trapezoid using its two parallel bases and height.


When to use it

Use these formulas in geometry, construction, engineering, and drafting when working with trapezoidal shapes and cross-sections.


Example

For a trapezoid with bases 10 m and 6 m, and height 4 m:


Area:

A = ((10+6)*4)/2 = 32 m²


Midsegment:

m = (10+6)/2 = 8 m


Applications

- Structural engineering

- Bridge and roof design

- Land surveying

- CAD and geometric modeling

- Cross-sectional area calculations


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