Parallelograms - How to Find the Area

Area - Parallelograms - How it Works - Video

Example 1

Example 1:

To find the area of a parallelogram, we need to use the area formula for parallelograms, Area = Base x Height.

The base is 8 cm, and the height is 10 cm.

Now we substitute the two measurements in the formula ==> A = 8 x 10.

Then we multiply the 8 and the 10 ==> A = 80.

Now we must add the units and in this case it is cm2. So our final answer is 80 cm2.

If we take a look at the second photo, we made a triangle inside the parallelogram and moved it to the right side and now it has formed a rectangle. If we use the area for the rectangles, Area = Length x Width, ==> A = 10 x 8 ==> A = 80 cm2. So the parallelogram is just a hidden rectangle when talking about area.

Example 2

Example 2:

To find the area of a parallelogram, we need to use the area formula for parallelograms, Area = Base x Height.

The base is 4 m, and the height is 12 m.

Now we substitute the two measurements in the formula ==> A = 4 x 12.

Then we multiply the 4 and the 12 ==> A = 48.

Now we must add the units and in this case it is cm2. So our final answer is 48 m2.

If we take a look at the second photo, we made a triangle inside the parallelogram and moved it to the right side and now it has formed a rectangle. If we use the area for the rectangles, Area = Length x Width, ==> A = 12 x 4 ==> A = 48 m2. So the parallelogram is just a hidden rectangle when talking about area.

Example 3

Example 3:

To find the area of a parallelogram, we need to use the area formula for parallelograms, Area = Base x Height.

The base is 10 m, and the height is 25 m. In this case, we can use the fact the opposite sides of a parallelogram are the same. Or we can rotate the image 180° so the 10 m on the top goes to the bottom.

Now we substitute the two measurements in the formula ==> A = 10 x 25.

Then we multiply the 10 and the 25 ==> A = 250.

Now we must add the units and in this case it is m2. So our final answer is 250 m2.

If we take a look at the second photo, we made a triangle inside the parallelogram and moved it to the right side and now it has formed a rectangle. If we use the area for the rectangles, Area = Length x Width, ==> A = 25 x 10 ==> A = 250 cm2. So the parallelogram is just a hidden rectangle when talking about area.

Example 4

Example 4:

To find the area of a parallelogram, we need to use the area formula for parallelograms, Area = Base x Height.

The base is 3 cm, and the height is 14 cm. The height of the parallelogram is outside the triangle. If we push the 14 cm in the parallelogram it will be how the height normally looks.

Now we substitute the two measurements in the formula ==> A = 3 x 14.

Then we multiply the 3 and the 14 ==> A = 42.

Now we must add the units and in this case it is cm2. So our final answer is 42 cm2.

If we take a look at the second photo, we made a triangle inside the parallelogram and moved it to the right side and now it has formed a rectangle. If we use the area for the rectangles, Area = Length x Width, ==> A = 14 x 3 ==> A = 42 cm2. So the parallelogram is just a hidden rectangle when talking about area.

Live Worksheet

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