Question

The area of a trapezium is $80c{m}^2$. The lengths of its parallel sides are $4cm$ and $16cm$ respectively. Find the perpendicular distance between the two parallel sides.

Answer 1

Let the perpendicular distance between two parallel sides of the trapezium be h cm.
Area of the trapezium = $\frac{1}{2}$ (Sum of parallel sides) $\times$ (Distance between them)
or $80=$ $\frac{1}{2}(4+16)\times h$

or $h=$ $\frac{80\times 2}{4+16}$

$=\frac{80\times 2}{20}$ $=8cm$
Hence, the distance between the two parallel sides of the trapezium is $8$ cm.