What is the correct formula for the area of a trapezoid?

The formula for calculating the area of a trapezoid is correctly represented as A = ½ (Base1 + Base2) × Height. This formula takes into account the nature of a trapezoid, which has two parallel sides (referred to as Base1 and Base2) and a height that is the perpendicular distance between these bases.

To derive this formula, one can visualize the trapezoid being split into two right triangles and one rectangle, or understand that the average length of the two bases (Base1 and Base2) constitutes the effective width across which the height is applied to calculate the area. By averaging the two bases and then multiplying by the height, you obtain the area of the trapezoid.

This formula reflects the unique properties of a trapezoid and correctly adjusts for the variation in length between the two bases, ensuring that the calculated area accurately represents the shape's dimensions. The other options do not appropriately reflect the geometric relationship needed to find the area of a trapezoid.