Estimate the area of Nevada by finding the area of the trapezoid shown below.

Question

Estimate the area of Nevada by finding the area of the trapezoid shown below.

A trapezoid is drawn around a map of the state of Nevada. It has a short base measuring 205 miles, a long base measuring 511 miles, and a height measuring 309 miles.

Which measurements in the diagram will you use for the bases and the height?
How will you use the bases and height to calculate the area?

Answer 1

The measurements you will use for the bases and the height are the short base measuring 205 miles, the long base measuring 511 miles, and the height measuring 309 miles. To calculate the area, you will use the formula A = (1/2)(b1 + b2)h, where b1 and b2 are the lengths of the two bases and h is the height. Plugging in the given measurements, the area of Nevada is estimated to be approximately 518,845 square miles.