How do you calculate the area of a trapezoid?

The area of a trapezoid is calculated using the formula that involves both of its bases and the height. A trapezoid has two parallel sides, referred to as Base1 and Base2. To find the area, you need to take the average of the lengths of these two bases, which is represented by the expression (Base1 + Base2) / 2. This average is then multiplied by the height of the trapezoid, representing the perpendicular distance between the two bases. Therefore, the entire formula for the area is (Base1 + Base2) × Height / 2.

This approach allows for an accurate calculation that accounts for the varying lengths of the bases, as a trapezoid can have bases of different lengths, unlike a rectangle where the bases are equal. The other options do not correctly encapsulate the relationship between the height and the bases needed to calculate the area of a trapezoid.