A designer wants to estimate the area of a trapezoid-shaped stage. each square represents one square foot. the designer decides to find the area by composing a rectangle. what is the length of the base of the rectangle in feet?
To compose a rectangle from the trapezoid, we need to find the height of the trapezoid and the length of its two bases.
Let's assume the trapezoid looks like this:
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/______________\
The height of the trapezoid is the distance between the two bases.
Now, to find the length of the base of the rectangle, let's say the length of the longer base of the trapezoid is x feet and the length of the shorter base is y feet.
Since the trapezoid is composed into a rectangle, the base of the rectangle will be the same as the longer base of the trapezoid (x feet).
Therefore, the length of the base of the rectangle is x feet.