Solve for b1 A=1/2h(b_1+b^2)

$A = \frac{1}{2} h (b_{1} + b^{2})$

Apply the distributive property.

$A = \frac{1}{2} \cdot (h b_{1} + h b^{2})$

Apply the distributive property.

$A = \frac{1}{2} (h b_{1}) + \frac{1}{2} (h b^{2})$

Multiply $\frac{1}{2} (h b_{1})$ .

Combine $h$ and $\frac{1}{2}$ .

$A = \frac{h}{2} b_{1} + \frac{1}{2} (h b^{2})$

Combine $\frac{h}{2}$ and $b_{1}$ .

$A = \frac{h b_{1}}{2} + \frac{1}{2} (h b^{2})$

Multiply $\frac{1}{2} (h b^{2})$ .

Combine $h$ and $\frac{1}{2}$ .

$A = \frac{h b_{1}}{2} + \frac{h}{2} b^{2}$

Combine $\frac{h}{2}$ and $b^{2}$ .

$A = \frac{h b_{1}}{2} + \frac{h b^{2}}{2}$