The area of a trapezium is 432 cm², if its parallel sides are in the ratio 3 : 5 and the perpendicular distance between them is 12 cm, the smaller of the parallel sides is?

27

Area of trapezium = 432 cm²

h = perpendicular distance b/w two parallel sides.

Area of trapezium = \(\frac{1}{2}\)×(sum of parallel sides) × h = 432

⇒ \(\frac{1}{2}\) × (3x+5x)×12 = 432

⇒ 48x = 432

⇒ x= \(\frac{432}{48}\) = 9

Smaller side = 3x = 3 × 9 = 27 cm