Calculate Parallelogram Area: 5 cm Base and 2 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 at an angle, so it's longer than the true height. Only the perpendicular distance gives the correct area.

Q: How do I know which side is the base?

Any side can be the base! Just make sure you use the perpendicular height to that chosen base. In this problem, AB = 5 cm is given as the base.

Q: Is a parallelogram different from a rectangle for area?

No difference! Both use the same formula: base × height. A rectangle is just a special parallelogram where all angles are 90°.

Q: What if the problem gives me two side lengths?

Be careful! You need the base and perpendicular height, not two sides. Look for the height measurement, which is often drawn as a dashed line perpendicular to the base.

Q: Why is my answer in square units?

Area measures surface space, so it's always in square units like cm². Length × length = length², which gives us the square units for area.

Area Calculation with Base and Height

AB = 5 cm

The height of the rectangle is 2 cm.

Calculate the area of the parallelogram.

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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

00:12 Let's use the formula for calculating the area of a parallelogram

00:16 Side(CD) multiplied by height (H)

00:20 Let's substitute appropriate values and solve for the area

00:29 And this is the solution to the problem

Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution

Understand the problem

AB = 5 cm

The height of the rectangle is 2 cm.

Calculate the area of the parallelogram.

Step-by-step solution

To find the area of the parallelogram, we will follow these steps:

Identify the base and the corresponding height.
Use the formula for the area of a parallelogram.
Perform the calculation to find the area.

Let's execute these steps:

Step 1: Identify the given measurements. The base $AB = 5 \, \text{cm}$ , and the height corresponding to it is $2 \, \text{cm}$ .

Step 2: Apply the formula for the area of a parallelogram, which is $A = b \times h$ .

Step 3: Substitute the known values into the formula:
$A = 5 \, \text{cm} \times 2 \, \text{cm} = 10 \, \text{cm}^2$

Therefore, the area of the parallelogram is $10 \, \text{cm}^2$ .

Final Answer

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic

Formula: Area of parallelogram = base × height
Technique: Use perpendicular height, not slanted side: 5 × 2 = 10
Check: Units should be square: cm² for area measurement ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors

Using slanted side instead of perpendicular height
Don't use the slanted side length as height = wrong area calculation! The slanted side is longer than the perpendicular height and gives an overestimated area. Always use the perpendicular distance from base to opposite side as the height.

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 at an angle, so it's longer than the true height. Only the perpendicular distance gives the correct area.

How do I know which side is the base?

Any side can be the base! Just make sure you use the perpendicular height to that chosen base. In this problem, AB = 5 cm is given as the base.

Is a parallelogram different from a rectangle for area?

No difference! Both use the same formula: base × height. A rectangle is just a special parallelogram where all angles are 90°.

What if the problem gives me two side lengths?

Be careful! You need the base and perpendicular height, not two sides. Look for the height measurement, which is often drawn as a dashed line perpendicular to the base.

Why is my answer in square units?

Area measures surface space, so it's always in square units like cm². Length × length = length², which gives us the square units for area.

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