I need help with this problem

[JnnInman]

I guess the 1/2 throws me off in how to set this problem up.
The book tells me to set it up as this A=1/2h(B+b)
Does the 1/2 mean half of the heigth given?

Rose’s garden is in the shape of a trapezoid. If the height of the trapezoid
is 16 m, one base is 20 m, and the area is 224 m , find the length of the other base.

224^2=8m(20m+bm)????

Can anyone help with this?
:shock:

 

[galactus]

The 1/2 is the average of the base lengths. There are two of them, add them and divide by two or multiply by 1/2, same thing.

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}h(B+b)=A\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}(16)(20+b)=224\)

Solve for b