Math Problem of the Week - Middle School - Mar. 27, 2022 to Apr. 2, 2022

Middle School: 

Question: The figure below is horizontally and vertically symmetrical. What is its area? (The figure is not drawn to scale.)

Answer: 104 square centimeters

Solution: One way we can find the area of the shape by thinking of it as two identical trapezoids. The area of a trapezoid is the average of its two bases multiplied by its height. The bases are 16 cm and 10 cm, so the average is 13 cm. The height is 4 cm. So, the area of one of the trapezoids is 13 × 4 = 52 square centimeters. The area of the whole figure is therefore 52 × 2 = 104 square centimeters.