Question:
Two parallel sides of a trapezium are 12 cm and 8 cm long and the distance between them is 6.5 cm. The area of the trapezium is
(a) $74 \mathrm{~cm}^{2}$
(b) $32.5 \mathrm{~cm}^{2}$
(c) $65 \mathrm{~cm}^{2}$
(d) $130 \mathrm{~cm}^{2}$
Figure
Solution:
(c) $65 \mathrm{~cm}^{2}$
Area of the trapezium $=\frac{1}{2} \times($ sum of parallel sides $) \times$ distance between them
$=\frac{1}{2} \times(12+8) \times 6.5$
$=65 \mathrm{~cm}^{2}$