Finding the area of two-dimensional figures
Finding the area of squares, trapezoids, triangles, and rectangles is a fundamental math skill that can be applied to many everyday situations. Knowing how to calculate the area of these shapes can be very useful in a variety of contexts, from measuring the size of a room to calculating the amount of paint needed for a wall. Here are some tips on how to find the area of these common shapes.
Squares
To find the area of a square, multiply the length of one side by itself. For example, if the length of one side of the square is 5 inches, the area would be or 25 square inches.
$$ s^ {2} =a $$
To find the area of a rectangle, multiply the length of one side by the width of the other side. For example, if the length of one side is 10 inches and the width of the other side is 7 inches, the area would be or 70 square inches.
$$ b \cdot h =a $$
To find the area of a triangle, multiply the base of the triangle by the height, and then divide that number by 2. For example, if the base of the triangle is 10 inches and the height is 5 inches, the area would be $$ \frac{1}{2}(10 \cdot 5) $$, or 25 square inches.
$$ \frac{1}{2}(b \cdot h)$$
Finally, to find the area of a trapezoid, multiply the sum of the two bases by the height, and then divide that number by 2. For example, if the two bases are 10 inches and 5 inches, and the height is 7 inches, the area would be $$ \frac{1}{2}(7 \cdot 10 + 5) $$, or 52.5 square inches.
With these tips, finding the area of squares, trapezoids, triangles, and rectangles should be a breeze.