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Parallel sides — OCR GCSE Mathematics Definition | GradeGen

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Mathematics
Key terms
Parallel sides

GCSE Mathematics · key term

Parallel sides

Definition

Lines that remain the same distance apart and never meet, usually indicated by matching arrow marks.

Used by OCR

How each exam board covers it

OCR GCSE Mathematics · J560

Specification 10.03c · Paper 1 (Foundation), Paper 2 (Foundation), Paper 3 (Foundation), Paper 4 (Higher), Paper 5 (Higher), Paper 6 (Higher)

A trapezium is a quadrilateral with a pair of parallel opposite sides. Its area depends on the lengths of those two parallel sides and the perpendicular distance between them.
Revise: Trapezium Area

OCR Mathematics past papers

Exam tips

1
Mark the two parallel sides before substituting into the formula; these are the lengths represented by $a$ and $b$ .
2
Keep the brackets when substituting: add the parallel sides before multiplying by $\frac{1}{}$ and the height.

Related key terms

Area
Perpendicular height
Trapezium

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2

\frac12

\frac{1}{2}