Calculate Parallelogram Area: 17 cm Base with 8 cm Height

Q: Why can't I use the slanted side as the height?

The height must be perpendicular to the base! The slanted side is longer than the true height, so using it would give you an area that's too large. Always look for the perpendicular distance between parallel sides.

Q: Is this the same formula as for rectangles?

Yes! Both rectangles and parallelograms use Area = base × height. The key is that height must always be the perpendicular distance between the parallel sides, not a slanted side.

Q: What if the height isn't clearly labeled in the diagram?

Look for a dashed line or right angle symbol showing the perpendicular from one side to the opposite side. This perpendicular line represents the true height you need for the formula.

Q: Do I always get the same area no matter which side I choose as the base?

Yes! You can use any side as the base, but you must use the corresponding perpendicular height to that base. The area will always be the same: $ 136 \, \text{cm}^2 $.

Q: Why do we write cm² for the answer?

Area measures square units because we're multiplying two lengths together. Since both measurements are in cm, the result is in $ \text{cm}^2 $ (square centimeters).

Area Calculation with Base-Height Formula

AB = 17 cm

The height of the rectangle is 8 cm.

Calculate the area of the parallelogram.

❤️ Continue Your Math Journey!

We have hundreds of course questions with personalized recommendations + Account 100% premium

Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations

00:00 Calculate the area of parallelogram ABCD

00:03 Opposite sides are equal in a parallelogram

00:13 We'll use the formula for calculating parallelogram area

00:18 Side(CD) multiplied by height (H)

00:25 We'll substitute appropriate values and solve for the area

00:36 And this is the solution to the question

Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution

Understand the problem

AB = 17 cm

The height of the rectangle is 8 cm.

Calculate the area of the parallelogram.

Step-by-step solution

To solve this problem, we will calculate the area of the parallelogram using the given base and height dimensions.

Step 1: Identify the given parameters. The base of the parallelogram $AB = 17 \, \text{cm}$ and the corresponding height is $8 \, \text{cm}$ .
Step 2: Apply the area formula for parallelograms: $\text{Area} = \text{base} \times \text{height}$ .
Step 3: Substitute the given values into the formula: $\text{Area} = 17 \times 8$ .

Calculating the product, we have:
$\text{Area} = 136 \, \text{cm}^2$ .

Therefore, the area of the parallelogram is $136 \, \text{cm}^2$ .

Final Answer

136

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic

Formula: Area of parallelogram equals base times perpendicular height
Technique: Use $\text{Area} = 17 \times 8 = 136$ for direct calculation
Check: Verify units are squared: $136 \, \text{cm}^2$ ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors

Using slant height instead of perpendicular height
Don't use the side length as height = wrong area! The slanted side gives a larger measurement than the true perpendicular distance. Always use the perpendicular height (the shortest distance between parallel sides).

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

A parallelogram has a length equal to 6 cm and a height equal to 4.5 cm.

Calculate the area of the parallelogram.

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why can't I use the slanted side as the height?

The height must be perpendicular to the base! The slanted side is longer than the true height, so using it would give you an area that's too large. Always look for the perpendicular distance between parallel sides.

Is this the same formula as for rectangles?

Yes! Both rectangles and parallelograms use Area = base × height. The key is that height must always be the perpendicular distance between the parallel sides, not a slanted side.

What if the height isn't clearly labeled in the diagram?

Look for a dashed line or right angle symbol showing the perpendicular from one side to the opposite side. This perpendicular line represents the true height you need for the formula.

Do I always get the same area no matter which side I choose as the base?

Yes! You can use any side as the base, but you must use the corresponding perpendicular height to that base. The area will always be the same: $136 \, \text{cm}^2$ .

Why do we write cm² for the answer?

Area measures square units because we're multiplying two lengths together. Since both measurements are in cm, the result is in $\text{cm}^2$ (square centimeters).

🌟 Unlock Your Math Potential

Get unlimited access to all 18 Parallelogram questions, detailed video solutions, and personalized progress tracking.

📹

Unlimited Video Solutions

Step-by-step explanations for every problem

📊

Progress Analytics

Track your mastery across all topics

🚫

Ad-Free Learning

Focus on math without distractions

No credit card required • Cancel anytime