Finding the Area of a Trapezoid by Decomposing Worksheet Download
Free 6th Grade math worksheets on Finding the Area of a Trapezoid by Decomposing. Each worksheet has 4 problems with an answer key and are ideal for teachers and homeschooling. You can download the PDF, create a set of flash cards or set it up for online learning.
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About this worksheet
Each worksheet has 4 problems cutting a trapezoid into a rectangle and two triangles to find its area.
The one trapezoid worksheet on this site applies the formula - half the sum of the bases, times the height - in a word problem. That is a formula to remember; this standard asks for the area of a shape that decomposes, and a trapezoid decomposes into a rectangle with a right triangle at each end, which is where the formula comes from and is the only version a student can rebuild if they forget it. The two end triangles are always different sizes on purpose: draw a symmetrical trapezoid and a student can find one end and double it without noticing there were two different pieces, and the method quietly becomes a formula again. Sheets can be customized, turned into flash cards, or assigned for online learning.
Student objectives
- Cut a trapezoid into a rectangle and two triangles.
- Find the area of each piece and add them.
- See where the trapezoid formula comes from.
Everyday practice
- Say what shapes a trapezoid can be cut into.
- Explain why a triangle is half a rectangle.
- Check an answer against the size of the whole shape.