One of the parallel sides of a trapezium is 5cm longer than the other. If the

prependicular

distance between them

is 9cm and area is 126cm

2

, find the length

of the parallel sides.

The area of a trapezium is the product of height and average base length. The average base length is

(126 cm^2) / (9 cm) = 14 cm

One base is half the difference longer than this, 16.5 cm; the other is half the difference shorter, 11.5 cm.