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How to Find Trapezoid Legs

Trapezoids bridge the gap from ordinary quadrilaterals to the more specialized parallelograms by possessing a least one pair of parallel sides. The parallel sides form the bases of the trapezoid, while the shape's legs are the sides that connect the two parallel ones. Finding a trapezoid's legs depends on finding which sides are parallel via a single perpendicular line. That's because a line that is perpendicular to one line will also be perpendicular to its parallel partner.

Things You'll Need

  • Ruler
  • Protractor
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Instructions

    • 1

      Select one of the trapezoid's sides, and draw a perpendicular line from one end of the side to the side opposite it with the straight edge of your ruler. If the perpendicular line doesn't intersect with the opposite side, then extend the opposite side with your ruler until it does.

    • 2

      Measure the angle created by the intersection of the perpendicular line and the opposite side with your protractor. If the angle is 90 degrees then the two sides separated by the perpendicular side are the trapezoid's bases; if the angle is not 90 degrees, then the two sides are its legs.

    • 3

      Measure the lengths of both legs with your ruler. With the exception of isosceles trapezoids, the legs will have different lengths.

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