Area of a parallelogram. Definition and formula (original) (raw)
The number of square units it takes to completely fill a parallelogram.
Formula: Base × Altitude
Try this Drag the orange dots to move and reshape the parallelogram. Drag point D to change the base.
Area formula
The area of a parallelogram is given by the formula where
b is the length of any base
a is the corresponding altitude
See Derivation of the formula.
Recall that any of the four sides can be chosen as the base. You must use the altitude that goes with the base you choose. The altitude (or height) of a parallelogram is the perpendicular distance from the base to the opposite side (which may have to be extended). In the figure above, the altitude corresponding to the base CD is shown.
Things to try
- In the figure above, click on "hide details"
- Drag the orange dots on the vertices to make a random-size parallelogram.
- Estimate the area of the parallelogram just counting the squares inside it
- Calculate the area using the formula When you done, click "show details" to see how close you got.
Other polygon topics
General
- Polygon general definition
- Quadrilateral
- Regular polygon
- Irregular polygon
- Convex polygons
- Concave polygons
- Polygon diagonals
- Polygon triangles
- Apothem of a regular polygon
- Polygon center
- Radius of a regular polygon
- Incircle of a regular polygon
- Incenter of a regular polygon
- Circumcircle of a polygon
- Parallelogram inscribed in a quadrilateral
Types of polygon
- Square
- Diagonals of a square
- Rectangle
- Diagonals of a rectangle
- Golden rectangle
- Parallelogram
- Rhombus
- Trapezoid
- Trapezoid median
- Kite
- Inscribed (cyclic) quadrilateral
Area of various polygon types
- Regular polygon area
- Irregular polygon area
- Rhombus area
- Kite area
- Rectangle area
- Area of a square
- Trapezoid area
- Parallelogram area
Perimeter of various polygon types
- Perimeter of a polygon (regular and irregular)
- Perimeter of a triangle
- Perimeter of a rectangle
- Perimeter of a square
- Perimeter of a parallelogram
- Perimeter of a rhombus
- Perimeter of a trapezoid
- Perimeter of a kite
Angles associated with polygons
- Exterior angles of a polygon
- Interior angles of a polygon
- Relationship of interior/exterior angles
- Polygon central angle
Named polygons
- Tetragon, 4 sides
- Pentagon, 5 sides
- Hexagon, 6 sides
- Heptagon, 7 sides
- Octagon, 8 sides
- Nonagon Enneagon, 9 sides
- Decagon, 10 sides
- Undecagon, 11 sides
- Dodecagon, 12 sides
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