A parallelogram is a quadrilateral with four sides; each pair of opposite sides is parallel to each other. In a parallelogram the measure of opposite sides is always equal. The parallel opposite sides of a parallelogram never intersect each other. This article on how to calculate area of a parallelogram will help you in calculating area of a parallelogram using simple formula.
The formula for calculating area of a parallelogram is given as,
Area of parallelogram = l × b
In the above formula,
- “l” is the height of parallelogram
- “b” is the base of parallelogram
Area of a parallelogram is usually expressed in square units i.e. m2, cm2, etc.
To calculate area of a parallelogram, you need to measure the height of the parallelogram. Height of a parallelogram is the distance between the two opposite sides of a parallelogram. This distance should be measured as a perpendicular height and not the slant height of the parallelogram.
To measure the perpendicular height of the parallelogram draw a perpendicular from one of the side of the parallelogram on the opposite side and measure its height.
Place the measured value of height of the parallelogram in the above equation.
Now, measure the length of base of the parallelogram and place it in the above equation and multiply both the values. This is the calculated area of a parallelogram.
Example:
Suppose the measurement of height of a parallelogram is 4.4 cm and the measurement of base of a parallelogram is 2 cm and you want to measure area of the parallelogram.
Then, using the formula for measuring area of parallelogram,
Area of parallelogram = l × b
= 4.4 × 2
= 8.8 cm2
Therefore, area of a parallelogram of height 4.4 cm and base 2 cm is 8.8 cm2.
You can also make use of online calculators for calculating area of a parallelogram. These online calculators allow you to insert the values of height and base of a parallelogram in different units that are compatible with each other and get the value of area of parallelogram calculated for you.
If you have the values in different units then you can look for help online to convert them into desired units and then place these values in the online calculators to calculate the area of a parallelogram.
Examples for practice:
- Calculate area of a parallelogram of height 5 feet and length of base 3.2 cm.
- Calculate area of a parallelogram of height 0.54 m and length of base 11 cm.
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