Trapezoid JKLM in the x-y plane has coordinates J = (–2, –4), K = (–2, 1), L = (6, 7), and M = (6, –4). What is its perimeter?	Answers
A) 34
B) 36
C) 38
D) 40
E) 42
This one may look challenging initially, but all kinds of simplifying tricks. First of all, J &amp; K have the same x-coordinate, so that’s a vertical segment, and the length is JK = 1 – (–4) = 5. L &amp; M also have the same x-coordinate, so that’s also a vertical segment, and the length is LM = 7 – (–4) = 11. J &amp; M have the same y-coordinate, so that’s also a horizontal segment, and the length is JM = 6 – (–2) = 8. Right there, we have the lengths of three of the four sides.   The last side to find is KL. From K = (–2, 1), we have to go over 8 and up 6 to get to L = (6, 7), so 6 and 8 the legs of the right triangle, and KL is the hypotenuse. We recognize another common Pythagorean triplet — (6, 8, 10), which is a multiple of the (3, 4, 5) triplet. Thus, without further calculations, we immediately know KL = 10.   Perimeter = JK + KL + LM + JM = 5 + 10 + 11 + 8= 
<gadget id="calculator">5 + 10 + 11 + 8</gadget>
<output>34</output>
34   34nswer= 34
<result>A</result>
Trapezoid JKLM in the x-y plane has coordinates J = (–2, –4), K = (–2, 1), L = (6, 7), and M = (6, –4). What is its perimeter?