Question: Calculate the area of the trapezoid.
38 ft
8.5 ft
19 ft
The area of the trapezoid is __________ square feet.
1. **State the problem:** We need to find the area of a trapezoid with bases of lengths $38$ ft and $19$ ft, and height $8.5$ ft.
2. **Formula for the area of a trapezoid:**
$$\text{Area} = \frac{(\text{Base}_1 + \text{Base}_2)}{2} \times \text{Height}$$
3. **Substitute the given values:**
$$\text{Area} = \frac{(38 + 19)}{2} \times 8.5$$
4. **Simplify inside the parentheses:**
$$\text{Area} = \frac{57}{2} \times 8.5$$
5. **Simplify the fraction:**
$$\text{Area} = 28.5 \times 8.5$$
6. **Calculate the product:**
$$\text{Area} = 242.25$$
7. **Final answer:** The area of the trapezoid is $242.25$ square feet.