Parallelogram Area

6th Grade42 minutesIllustrative Mathematics

Learning Objective

I can calculate the area of parallelograms by composing rectangles.

Key Concepts

The area of a parallelogram can be found by multiplying the base by the height.

The height of a parallelogram is the perpendicular distance between the base and its opposite side.

A parallelogram can be divided into two congruent triangles, and its area is twice the area of one of these triangles.

Practice Questions

This lesson includes 8 practice questions to reinforce learning.

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1. What is the general formula for finding the area of a parallelogram?

2. The formula '1/2 × diagonal1 × diagonal2' works for finding the area of some quadrilaterals. Which of the following explains why it cannot be used for all parallelograms?

3. A parallelogram has a base of 8 cm and a height of 4 cm. What is its area?

...and 5 more questions

Educational Video

Area of a parallelogram | Perimeter, area, and volume | Geometry | Khan Academy

Khan Academy

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