About Trapezoid Perimeter Calculation

What is the Perimeter of a Trapezoid?

The perimeter of a trapezoid is the total distance around its outer edge. It is calculated by adding the lengths of all four sides of the trapezoid.

Formula for Trapezoid Perimeter

The formula for calculating the perimeter of a trapezoid is straightforward:

\[P = a + b + c + d\]

Where:

• \(P\) is the perimeter of the trapezoid
• \(a\) is the length of the top base
• \(b\) is the length of the bottom base
• \(c\) is the length of the left leg
• \(d\) is the length of the right leg

Calculation Steps

1. Measure or identify the lengths of all four sides of the trapezoid.
2. Add these four lengths together using the formula: \(P = a + b + c + d\).
3. The result is the perimeter of the trapezoid.

Example

Let's calculate the perimeter of a trapezoid with the following measurements:

• Top base (a) = 5 units
• Bottom base (b) = 9 units
• Left leg (c) = 4 units
• Right leg (d) = 4 units

Applying the formula:

\[P = 5 + 9 + 4 + 4 = 22\]

Therefore, the perimeter of this trapezoid is 22 units.

Visual representation: